*#.:•"• 


V 


V 


o|        ^ri» 

ALTA 
EDITION 


82  8  Broadway 


LIBRARY 


UNIVERSITY   OF  CALIFORNIA. 

Received 
A  ccessions  No . 


Shelf  No. 


Main  Lib. 


-8$ 


r 


v          *\ 

uSIVERSITT] 


GENERAL  JAMES  CLINTON'S  ESCAPE  FROM  FORT  CLINTON. 


BATTLES 


OF   THE 


KEPUBLIC, 


BY  SEA  AND  LAND, 


FROM  LEXINGTON  TO  THE  CITY  OF  MEXICO. 


pv 

HENRY  W.  HARBISON. 


ILLUSTRATED  WITH  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FIFTY  ENGRAVINGS 


osr 

• 


PHILADELPHIA: 
PORTER    &    COATES, 


Copyright.  H.  C.  PECK  &  THEO.  BLISS,  1858. 


PREFACE. 


THIS  work  is  designed  to  present  a  coup-d'oett 
of  American  military  history  by  means  of  lively 
sketches  of  the  most  important  battles  fought 
since  the  commencement  of  the  Revolutionary 
War,  by  troops  and  naval  forces,  in  the  service 
of  the  United  States.  It  has  been  by  no  means 
an  easy  task  to  condense  so  much  history  within 
so  small  a  space.  The  writer  hopes  and  trusts, 
however,  that  what  is  contained  in  this  volume 
will  be  found  sufficient  for  the  information  of  the 
general  reader,  and  that  it  will  dwell  in  the  memory 
more  permanently,  than  if  the  record  of  the  same 
events  had  been  spread  out  so  as  to  occupy  many 
volumes. 


CONTENTS. 


BATTLE  or  LEXINGTON 8 

Capture  of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point 12 

Battle  of  Bunker  Hill 14 

Siege  of  Boston 20 

Expedition  against  Canada 27 

Defence  of  Fort  Moultrie 36 

Descent  upon  Long  Island 40 

Battle  of  Trenton 43 

Battle  of  Princeton 50 

Battle  of  Brandywine , 54 

Battle  of  Germantown ; 58 

Battles  of  Red  Bank  and  Fort  Mifflin 61 

Battle  of  Bennington 65 

Battle  of  Behmus's  Heights 71 

Battle  of  Stillwater 75 

Attack  on  Forts  Clinton  and  Montgomery 79 

Battle  of  Monmouth 84 

Massacre  of  Wyoming 88 

Siege  of  Savannah 95 

Storming  of  Stony  Point 98 

Capture  of  the  Serapis 102 

Capture  of  Charleston 106 

Battle  of  Waxhaws ; 109 

Battle  of  Camden Ill 

Battle  of  King's  Mountain 116 

Battle  of  the  Cowpens 121 

Battle  of  Guilford  Court-House 126 

Battle  of  Hobkirk's  Hill 131 

Battle  of  Eutaw  Springs 134 

Siege  of  Yorktown 139 

Capture  of  the  General  Monk 150 

Close  of  the  Revolutionary  War 153 

General  Wayne's  Victory  over  the  Indians 158 

Capture  of  L'Insurgente 161 

Burning  of  the  Philadelphia 165 

Bombardment  of  Tripoli 169 

Capture  of  Derne 173 

5 


CONTENTS. 


Battle  of  Tippecanoe 178 

Commencement  of  the  War  of  1812 — Defence  of  Fort  Harrison  183 

Battles  of  Ogdensburg,  Fort  Niagara,  and  Queenstown 187 

Constitution  and  Guerriere 194 

United  States  and  Macedonian — Wasp  and  Frolic — Constitution 

and  Java 197 

Battle  of  Frenchtown 207 

Siege  of  Fort  Meigs 209 

Defence  of  Fort  Stephenson 215 

Battle  of  Lake  Erie 218 

Battle  of  the  Thames 223 

Hornet  and  Peacock 225 

Chesapeake  and  Shannon 229 

Enterprise  and  Boxer 233 

Massacre  at  Fort  Mimms 237 

Battles  of  Tallushatches  and  Talladega 240 

Expedition  to  the  Hillibee  Towns  and  the  Tallapoosa  River 246 

Final  Treaty  of  the  Creeks 251 

Battle  of  Chippewa 258 

Battles  of  Bridgewater  and  Niagara 262 

Siege  of  Fort  Erie 267 

Battles  of  Plattsburg  and  Lake  Champlain 275 

Battle  of  Bladensburg  and  Capture  of  the  Capital 282 

Attempt  of  the  British  on  Baltimore 289 

Attack  of  Fort  Bowyer  and  Capture  of  Pensacola 291 

Battle  of  New  Orleans 296 

President  and  Endymion.. 306 

Constitution,  Cyane  and  Levant 310 

Hornet  and  Penguin 315 

Porter's  Cruise  in  the  Pacific 320 

Seminole  War 325 

Black  Hawk's  War 335 

Second  Seminole  W^ar 342 

Commencement  of  the  Mexican  War,  and  Battles  of  Palo  Alto 

and  Resaca  de  la  Palma 348 

Storming  of  Montgomery 359 

Battle  of  Buena  Vista 363 

Siege  of  Vera  Cruz 371 

Battle  of  Cerro  Gordo 379 

Battles  of  Contreras  and  Churubusco 387 

Storming  of  Molino  Del  Rey 405 

Storming  of  Chapultepec  and  Capture  of  Mexico 418 

Siege  of  Puebla 436 

Battles  of  Huamantla  and  Atlixco 443 

Occupation  of  California  and  New  Mexico 451 


THE 


attle-f  Mb  aifo  Sfaiml 


THE  object  of  most  of '  the  wars  undertaken  by 
Great  Britain  has  been  to  force  her  commercial 
system  upon  other  nations.  This  system  had  been 
submitted  to  by  her  North  American  colonies  with 
a  very  ill  grace  for  many  years  before  the  Revo 
lution  ;  and  when  in  addition  to  it  a  system  of 
direct  taxation  was  resorted  to,  the  Americans, 
foreseeing  the  ultimate  result  of  further  submission, 
resolved  upon  resistance.  Their  object  at  first  was 
what  they  called  redress  of  grievances;  but  a  single 
year  of  hostilities  drove  them  into  a  declaration  of 
independence,  which  it  cost  seven  years  more  of 
war  to  maintain  and  perfect. 

7 


8 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


THE    MINUTE-MAN. 


BATTLE   OF   LEXINGTON. 

THE  first  blow  struck  for  the  freedom  of  the 
American  people  was  at  Lexington.  The  people, 
long  oppressed  by  the  tyranny  of  the  mother-coun 
try,  had  begun  to  make  preparations  for  a  struggle 
to  free  themselves  from  the  taxation  and  oppression 
of  a  despot  whose  only  aim  seemed  to  be  the  drain 
ing  of  the  coffers  of  Americans.  The  stores  of 
arms  and  provisions  at  Concord  first  attracted  the 
attention  of  General  Gage,  commander-in-chief  of 
the  British  forces  in  America. 

At  eleven  o'clock  at  night,  on  the  18th  of  April, 
1775,  in  pursuance  of  his  determination  to  seize  the 
stores  at  Concord,  General  Gage  embarked  800 
grenadiers  and  light  infantry,  the  flower  of  his 
army,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  9 

Smith  and  Major  Pitcairn,  on  Charles  River,  at 
Boston  Neck. 

Sailing  up  to  Phipp's  Farm,  they  landed  there, 
and  advanced  towards  Concord.  Some  of  the 
friends  of  liberty  got  notice  of  this  movement;  and, 
in  spite  of  the  secrecy  of  their  movements,  the 
British  troops  soon  found,  by  the  firing  of  guns  and 
ringing  of  bells,  that  the  alarm  was  spreading  over 
the  country.  Between  four  and  five  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  the  19th  of  April,  the  troops  reached 
Lexington,  thirteen  miles  from  Boston.  About 
seventy  of  the  American  militia  were  standing  near 
the  road;  but,  on  account  of  the  deficiency  of  their 
force,  they  had  no  idea  of  attacking  the  military. 
Major  Pitcairn,  who  had  gone  forward  with  the 
light  infantry,  rode  towards  them,  calling  out, 
"  Disperse,  you  rebels !  throw  down  your  arms  and 
disperse !"  The  order  not  being  obeyed,  the  troops 
fired  on  them.  Several  Americans  dispersed;  but, 
finding  that  the  British  still  fired,  they  returned  the 
fire.  Eight  Americans  were  left  dead  on  the  field. 

The  rest  of  the  detachment,  under  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Smith,  coming  up,  the  soldiers  proceeded  to 
Concord  without  any  further  resistance.  The  small 
body  of  militia  stationed  there  retreated  across  the 
bridge  before  the  British  light  infantry.  The  main 
body  of  the  troops  entered  the  town,  and  destroyed 
all  the  stores  of  ammunition,  arms,  and  provisions 
which  they  could  lay  their  hands  on. 

American  reinforcements  arriving,  Major  Buttrick, 
of  Concord,  assumed  the  command,  and  advanced  to 
take  the  bridge,  until  then  in  possession  of  the 
British  light  infantry.  The  light  infantry  retired, 


10  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

and  commenced  pulling  up  the  bridge.  The  militia 
advancing  still,  the  regulars  fired  on  them.  The 
provincials  returned  the  fire,  and  a  sharp  contest 
ensued,  the  Americans  finally  forcing  the  British 
to  commence  their  retreat  to  Boston.  But  the 
country  was  now  alarmed,  and  the  retreating  troops 
were  exposed  to  an  irregular  but  destructive  fire 


PBOVINCIALS    HA.BA8SINQ     THE    BRITISH    IN    THEIR    RETREAT. 

from  the  militia,  who,  sheltering  themselves  behind 
trees,  fences,  and  stone  walls,  and  availing  them 
selves  of  their  superior  knowledge  of  the  country, 
kept  up  an  incessant,  galling  storm  of  bullets  on  the 
British. 

The  regulars,  exhausted  with  their  rapid  retreat, 
at  last  reached  Lexington,  where  Lord  Percy  joined 
them  with  900  men  and  two  pieces  of  cannon. 

The  regulars,  now  amounting  to  1800  men,  con- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  11 

tinned  their  retreat  after  a  moment's  rest  at  Concord. 
Lord  Percy,  by  means  of  his  cannon,  kept  the  militia 
at  their  distance ;  but  the  galling  fire  still  continued. 
In  the  evening  the  regulars  arrived  at  Bunker's  Hill, 
where,  exhausted  by  fatigue,  they  remained  until 
morning,  and  then  went  into  Boston.  In  this  ex 
pedition  the  British  lost  65  men  killed,  180  wounded, 
and  28  made  prisoners: — total  loss,  273.  The 
American  loss  was  50  killed,  34  wounded,  and  four 
missing : — total  loss  88.  From  the  moment  the 
British  had  arrived  in  Boston,  after  this  action,  that 
place  was  in  a  state  of  siege,  which  lasted  till 
March,  1776. 


12 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


RUINS    OP    FORT   TICOKDKROQA. 


CAPTURE  OF   TICONDEROGA  AND 
CROWN   POINT. 

THE  fortress  of  Ticonderoga  was  thought  by  the 
British  to  command  all  our  passes  to  Canada. 
Though  in  a  somewhat  dilapidated  condition,  it 
was  a  post  of  importance.  A  bold  scheme  was  at 
once  formed  by  a  few  men  in  Connecticut  to  get 
possession  of  this  fortress,  and  also  of  Crown  Point. 
About  forty  volunteers,  by  the  authority  of  Gover 
nor  Trumbull,  marched  to  Castleton,  where  they 
were  joined  by  Colonel  Ethan  Allen,  with  his  "Green 
Mountain  Boys,"  which  increased  the  number  to 
two  hundred  and  seventy.  Colonel  Benedict  Ar- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  13 

nold,  who  had  meditated  the  same  enterprise,  now 
joined  the  volunteers,  and  the  command  was  given 
to  Colonel  Allen.  On  the  9th  of  May,  they  arrived 
on  the  shore  of  Lake  Champlain,  opposite  Ticon- 
deroga.  Allen  and  Arnold  crossed  with  eighty- 
three  men  and  surprised  the  garrison,  who  were  yet 
asleep.  Three  loud  cheers  roused  them  to  a  sense 
of  their  danger,  and  as  light  skirmish  ensued.  De 
la  Place,  the  commander,  was  required  to  surrender 
the  place.  "By  what  authority?"  he  asked.  "I 
demand  it,"  replied  Allen,  "in  the  name  of  the  great 
Jehovah  and  the  Continental  Congress."  The  for 
tress  surrendered  immediately.  Colonel  Seth  War 
ner,  with  a  small  party  of  men,  surprised  and  cap 
tured  Crown  Point.  The  pass  of  Skeensborough  was 
seized  at  the  same  time  by  some  Connecticut  volun 
teers.  At  this  time  a  sloop-of-war  was  lying  at 
St.  John's,  a  town  at  the  northern  extremity  of 
Lake  Champlain.  Colonel  Arnold  surprised  and 
seized  it. 

Ticonderoga,  Crown  Point,  and  the  pass  of  Skeens 
borough,  were  all  seized  without  any  bloodshed;  and, 
the  seizure  of  the  vessel  being  also  effected  without 
the  loss  of  a  man,  two  important  posts,  a  very  large 
quantity  of  military  stores,  a  sloop-of-war,  and,  above 
all,  the  command  of  Lakes  George  and  Champlain, 
were  acquired  by  the  daring  of  a  few  provincial 
soldiers. 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


GENERAL   WARREN. 


BATTLE   OF   BUNKER  HILL. 

ON  the  12th  of  June,  1775,  General  Gage  issued 
a  proclamation  offering  pardon  to  all  persons  "  who 
shall  forthwith  lay  down  their  arms  and  return  to 
the  duties  of  peaceable  subjects,  excepting  only  from 
the  benefit  of  such  pardon  Samuel  Adams  and 
John  Hancock,  whose  offences  are  of  too  flagitious  a 
nature  to  admit  of  any  other  consideration  than 
that  of  condign  punishment."  This  proclamation, 
so  far  from  intimidating  the  colonists,  only  served 
to  strengthen  and  unite  them. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  15 

An  apprehension  having  been  excited,  by  the 
movements  of  the  British  army,  that  General  Gage 
intended  invading  the  interior,  movements  wore 
made  in  Congress  to  take  measures  for  the  defence 
of  Dorchester  Neck,  and  to  occupy  Bunker's  Hill. 

Colonel  Prescott  was  sent  with  the  fragments  of 
three  regiments,  on  the  night  of  the  16th  of  June, 
to  occupy  Bunker's  Hill.  Finding,  however,  that 
Breed's  Hill  was  a  much  better  spot  for  a  battle 
ground,  and  considering  that  they  would  not  be 
disobeying  orders  by  occupying  that  place,  the  en 
gineers  at  once  commenced  a  redoubt  on  the  right 
of  Breed's  Hill.  It  was  about  one  hundred  and 
forty  feet  square,  with  two  passages  for  ingress  and 
egress.  A  breastwork  of  sods  was  constructed  on 
the  left  of  the  redoubt ;  and  a  screen,  made  with  two 
post-and-rail  fences,  four  feet  apart,  with  grass 
trodden  between,  extended  to  Mystic  River. 

General  Ward,  commander  of  the  American  forces, 
saw  that  the  British  would  make  an  attempt  to 
capture  the  works,  and  sent  reinforcements  to  Colonel 
Prescott  from  his  camp  in  Cambridge.  Early  in 
the  morning,  one  of  the  men  was  shot  from  the 
battery  at  Copp's  Hill,  and  was  buried  where  he 
fell.  No  further  damage  was  done,  however,  though 
the  cannonade  was  incessant. 

General  Gage  wished  to  drive  the  provincials  from 
the  hill,  and  for  this  purpose  sent  Major-General 
Howe  and  Brigadier-General  Pigot,  with  ten  com 
panies  of  grenadiers  and  ten  of  light  infantry, 
with  some  artillery,  to  perform  this  service.  These 
generals  waited  until  three  o'clock  P.M.  for  rein 
forcements  from  Boston,  ar  d  then  the  British  began 


16  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

to  march  slowly  up  the  hill.  The  Americans  were 
ordered  to  put  four  buck-shot  to  a  bullet,  and  to 
reserve  their  fire  until  the  British  were  within 
point-blank  range.  At  this  moment  they  poured 
in  upon  the  British  a  terrible  and  destructive  fire. 
The  regulars,  who  only  expected  an  irregular  and 
scattering  militia  volley,  were  astounded  at  the 
deadly  fire  which  made  such  havoc  among  their 
ranks.  They  fell  back  in  confusion.  The  officers 
had  the  greatest  difficulty  in  making  them  form  for 
the  second  time;  and,  indeed,  had  it  not  been  for  the 
determined  bravery  of  the  British  commanders  and 
the  encouraging  daring  of  the  officers  of  lower  rank, 
the  troops  would  have  met  a  signal  defeat. 

For  the  second  time  the  British  advanced,  and  a 
second  volley  was  poured  into  them,  making  the 
confusion  worse  than  before.  Clinton  saw  this  from 
Boston,  and  hastened  over  to  assist  Howe.  Both 
generals  addressed  the  troops,  called  to  mind  the 
victories  gained  by  British  soldiers  over  all 
European  powers,  and  the  everlasting  disgrace  of 
being  beaten  by  raw  militia.  Charlestown  had 
been  set  fire  to,  in  order  to  intimidate  the  Americans; 
and  the  whole  town,  consisting  of  four  hundred 
houses,  was  in  a  blaze.  The  British  commanders, 
not  daring  to  trust  a  third  time  to  bravery,  tried 
stratagem.  Pigot,  taking  the  command  of  a  con 
siderable  force,  went  around  to  the  southwestern 
angle  of  the  redoubt  and  scaled  the  slight  works. 
The  Americans  were  now  attacked  east  and  west. 
Their  ammunition  was  exhausted;  and,  having  no 
bayonets,  they  were  forced  to  retreat,  after  a  short 
fight  with  the  butts  of  their  guns.  Those  at  the 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  17 

breastwork  and  in  the  redoubt  retreated,  and  those 
at  the  rail  fence  followed,  over  Charlestown  Neck, 
northward. 

It  was  during  the  retreat  that  the  Americans 
suffered  the  most  part  of  their  loss. 

Captain  Knowlton,  having  a  large  company  near 
Mystic  Eiver,  moved  up  in  good  order  and  covered 
the  retreat  of  the  provincials. 

The  British  acknowledged  1054  killed  and  wound 
ed,  with  a  large  proportion  of  officers;  but  their 
loss  was  undoubtedly  greater. 

The  Americans  had  1500  to  1600  men  engaged 
in  battle,  of  whom  one  hundred  and  thirty-nine  wrere 
killed  and  three  hundred  and  fourteen  wounded 
and  missing.  The  officers  killed  on  the  American 
side  were  —  Majors  Moore  and  McCleary,  Colonel 
Gardiner,  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Parker.  Major- 
General  Joseph  Warren  was  also  among  the  killed. 
This  gallant  and  brave  officer  was  appointed  major- 
general  four  days  previous  to  the  battle,  and  on  his 
entering  the  redoubt  Colonel  Prescott  offered  him 
the  command,  which  he  refused,  saying,  "I  came  to 
learn  war  under  an  experienced  soldier;  not  to  take 
any  command"  He  was  at  the  time  ot  his  death 
president  of  the  Provincial  Congress  and  chairman 
of  the  Committee  of  Safety.  His  death  caused  the 
Americans  to  determine  never  to  give  up  their  cause. 
His  blood  cried  from  the  ground  for  vengeance.  The 
effect  of  this  battle  was  to  inspire  the  Americans  to 
greater  deeds  of  daring.  It  showed  to  those  who 
were  in  a  state  of  incertitude  in  regard  to  which 
side  w?as  the  best,  that  the  provincials  could  and 
would  fight.  They  had  done  enough  for  honor,— 

2 


18 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


enough  to  show  the  British  that  they  were  deter 
mined.  They  had  given  themselves  confidence  in 
their  own  ability,  and  they  seemed  more  and  more 
likely  to  make  the  throne  of  England  totter  to  its 
base.  The  loss  was  severely  felt;  the  wound  they 
had  received  was  deep ;  but  the  British  forces — the 
pride  of  their  nation, — the  troops  who  were  thought 
invincible, — were  twice  repulsed  and  nearly  defeated 
by  raw  militia  fighting  for  their  homes  and  firesides. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


19 


SIKQB    Of    BOSTON. 


SIEGE   OF   BOSTON. 

ON  the  10th  of  May,  Congress  voted  an  army  of 
20,000  men,  chose  George  Washington  to  be  com- 
mander-in-chief  of  the  army  of  the  United  Colonies, 
and  emitted  three  million  dollars'  worth  of  bills  of 
credit.  Washington  accepted  his  high  trust,  though 
with  great  diffidence.  On  the  request  of  Congress 
that  he  would  accept  the  command,  he  addressed 
the  president  of  that  august  body  in  the  following 
words  : — "  Though  I  am  truly  sensible  of  the  high 
honor  done  me  by  this  appointment,  yet  I  feel 
great  distress,  from  a  consciousness  that  my  abilities 
and  military  experience  are  not  equal  to  the  arduous 


20  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

trust.  But,  as  the  Congress  desire  it,  I  will  enter 
on  the  momentous  duty,  and  exert  every  power  I 
possess  in  their  service  and  for  the  support  of  the 
glorious  cause.  I  beg  they  will  accept  my  cordial 
thanks  for  this  high  testimony  of  their  approbation." 

Every  favorable  position  was  fortified  and  vigi 
lantly  guarded,  so  that  the  British  could  find  no 
point  of  egress  from  Boston.  Washington  and  the 
other  generals  exerted  themselves  to  equip  and 
discipline  the  army.  There  was  no  lack  of  courage 
and  zeal  among  the  officers  and  men ;  but  they  were 
generally  unaccustomed  to  the  subordination  and 
discipline  of  the  camp,  and  destitute  of  the  requisite 
arms  and  ammunition.  In  the  beginning  of  September 
the  army  received  a  supply  of  seven  thousand  pounds 
of  powder  from  Rhode  Island,  and  powder-mills  were 
erected  at  various  places  to  supply  the  demand. 
Washington  boldly  grappled  with  the  many  difficul 
ties  of  his  situation.  He  perceived  that  the  expense 
of  maintaining  an  army  far  exceeded  the  estimates 
of  Congress,  and  that  the  short  term  for  which  the 
men  were  enlisted  threatened  serious  consequences. 
The  new  enlistments  were  made  to  serve  until  the 
1st  of  December,  1776. 

The  British  troops  in  Boston,  amounting  to  about 
10,000  men,  were  reduced  to  a  very  uncomfortable 
condition.  The  country-people  generally  refused  to 
sell  them  any  provisions,  and  their  naval  supplies 
were  intercepted  by  the  armed  vessels  which  the 
Massachusetts  Assembly  had  fitted  out  for  the  de 
fence  of  the  coast.  On  the  10th  of  October,  General 
Gage  left  Boston  for  England,  and  the  command 
devolved  on  General  Howe.  Several  vessels,  con- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  21 

taining  a  large  quantity  of  stores  for  the  British 
army,  were  captured  by  the  Massachusetts  privateers, 
and  afforded  a  seasonable  supply  to  the  Americans. 

On  the  13th  of  December,  Congress  resolved  to 
fit  out  thirteen  ships-of-war,  which  formed  the  germ 
of  the  American  navy.  It  had  been  also  resolved 
to  raise  a  large  army,  and  each  of  the  colonies  had 
agreed  to  furnish  a  considerable  number  of  men; 
but  recruiting  went  on  slowly.  No  bounty  was 
offered  until  February ;  and  on  the  last  day  of  De 
cember,  when  the  old  army  was  disbanded,  Wash 
ington  learned  that  but  9650  men  had  been  enlisted 
for  the  campaign  of  1776.  Compelled  to  submit  to 
inactivity,  his  means  of  acting  on  the  offensive  were 
magnified,  and  doubts  of  his  ability  and  integrity 
rewarded  his  constant  anxiety.  Congress  desired 
that  the  town  should  be  attacked ;  but  a  council  of 
war  decided  against  the  measure. 

It  was  now  deemed  expedient  to  get  possession 
of  Dorchester  Heights;  and  the  night  of  the  4th  of 
March  was  fixed  upon  for  the  attempt.  A  covering 
party  of  800  men  led  the  way.  These  were  followed 
by  the  carts,  with  the  entrenching  tools,  and  1200 
of  a  working  party,  commanded  by  General  Thomas. 
In  the  rear  there  were  more  than  two  hundred  carts, 
loaded  with  fascines  and  hay  in  bundles.  While  the 
cannon  were  playing  in  other  parts,  the  greatest 
silence  was  kept  by  this  working  party.  The  active 
zeal  of  the  industrious  provincials  completed  lines  of 
defence  by  morning  which  astonished  the  garrison. 
The  difference  between  Dorchester  Heights  on  the 
evening  of  the  4th  and  the  morning  of  the  5th 
seemed  to  realize  the  tales  of  romance.  The  ad- 


22  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

miral  informed  General  Howe  that  if  the  Americans 
kept  possession  of  these  heights  he  would  not  be 
able  to  keep  one  of  his  majesty's  ships  in  the  harbor. 
It  was  therefore  determined,  in  a  council  of  war,  to 
attempt  to  dislodge  them.  An  engagement  was 
hourly  expected.  It  was  intended  by  General  Wash 
ington,  in  that  case,  to  force  his  way  into  Boston 
with  4000  men,  who  were  to  have  embarked  at  the 
mouth  of  Cambridge  River.  The  militia  had  come 
forward  with  great  alertness,  each  bringing  three 
days'  provision,  in  expectation  of  an  immediate 
assault.  The  men  were  in  high  spirits  and  impa 
tiently  waiting  for  the  appeal. 

They  were  reminded  that  it  was  the  5th  of  March, 
and  were  called  upon  to  avenge  the  death  of  their 
countrymen  killed  on  that  day.  The  many  emi 
nences  in  and  near  Boston  which  overlooked  the 
ground  on  which  it  was  expected  that  the  contending 
parties  would  engage  were  crowded  with  numerous 
spectators;  but  General  Howe  did  not  intend  to 
attack  until  the  next  day.  In  the  night  a  most 
violent  storm,  and  towards  morning  a  heavy  flood 
of  rain,  came  on.  A  carnage  was  thus  providentially 
prevented,  that  would  probably  have  equalled,  if 
not  exceeded,  the  fatal  17th  of  June  at  Bunker's 
Hill.  In  this  situation  it  was  agreed  by  the  British, 
in  a  council  of  war,  to  evacuate  the  town  as  soon  as 
possible. 

In  a  few  days  after,  a  flag  came  out  of  Boston 
with  a  paper  signed  by  four  select-men,  stating 
"that  they  had  applied  to  General  Robertson,  who, 
on  an  application  to  General  Howe,  was  authorized 
to  assure  them  that  he  had  no  intention  of  burning 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  23 

the  town,  unless  the  troops  under  his  command  were 
molested  during  their  embarkation,  or  at  their  de 
parture,  by  the  armed  force  without."  When  this 
paper  was  presented  to  General  Washington,  he 
replied  "  that  as  it  was  an  unauthenticated  paper, 
and  without  an  address,  and  not  obligatory  on 
General  Howe,  he  could  take  no  notice  of  it ;"  but 
at  the  same  time  intimated  his  good  wishes  for  the 
security  of  the  town. 

A  proclamation  was  issued  by  General  Howe, 
ordering  all  woollen  and  linen  goods  to  be  delivered 
to  Crean  Brush,  Esq.  Shops  were  opened  and 
stripped  of  their  goods.  A  licentious  plundering 
took  place.  Much  was  carried  off,  and  more  was 
wrantonly  destroyed.  These  irregularities  were  for 
bidden  in  orders,  and  the  guilty  threatened  with 
death ;  but,  nevertheless,  great  mischief  was  com 
mitted. 

The  British,  amounting  to  more  than  7000  men, 
evacuated  Boston,  March  17th,  1776,  leaving  their 
barracks  standing,  a  number  of  pieces  of  cannon 
spiked,  four  large  iron  sea-mortars,  and  stores  to 
the  value  of  £30,000.  They  demolished  the  castle 
and  knocked  off  the  trunnions  of  the  cannon. 
Various  incidents  caused  a  delay  of  nine  days  after 
the  evacuation,  before  they  left  Nantasket  Koad. 

This  embarkation  was  attended  with  many  cir 
cumstances  of  distress  and  embarrassment.  On  the 
departure  of  the  royal  army  from  Boston,  a  great 
number  of  the  inhabitants,  attached  to  the  royal 
cause,  and  afraid  of  public  resentment,  chose  to 
abandon  their  country.  From  the  great  multitude 
about  to  depart,  there  was  no  possibility  of  procur 


24  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

ing  purchasers  for  their  furniture ;  neither  was  there 
a  sufficiency  of  vessels  for  its  convenient  trans 
portation.  Mutual  jealousy  subsisted  between  the 
army  and  navy,  each  charging  the  other  as  the  cause 
of  their  common  distress.  The  army  was  full  of 
discontent.  Keinforcernents,  though  long  promised, 
had  not  arrived.  Both  officers  and  soldiers  thought 
themselves  neglected.  Five  months  had  elapsed 
since  they  had  received  any  advice  of  their  destina 
tion.  Wants  and  inconveniences  increased  their  ill- 
humor.  Their  intended  voyage  to  Halifax  sub 
jected  them  to  great  dangers.  The  coast,  at  all 
times  hazardous,  was  eminently  so  at  that  tempest 
uous  equinoctial  season.  They  had  reason  to  fear 
that  they  would  be  blown  off  to  the  West  Indies, 
and  without  a  sufficient  stock  of  provisions.  They 
were  also  going  to  a  barren  country.  To  add  to 
their  difficulties,  this  dangerous  voyage,  when  com 
pleted,  was  directly  so  much  out  of  their  way. 
Their  business  lay  to  the  southward,  and  they  were 
going  northward.  Under  all  these  difficulties,  and 
with  all  these  gloomy  prospects,  the  fleet  steered 
for  Halifax.  Contrary  to  appearances,  the  voyage 
thither  was  both  short  and  prosperous.  They  re 
mained  there  for  some  time,  waiting  for  reinforce 
ments  and  instructions  from  England. 

When  the  royal  fleet  and  army  departed  from 
Boston,  several  ships  were  left  behind,  for  the  pro 
tection  of  vessels  coming  from  England;  but  the 
American  privateers  were  so  alert  that  they  never 
theless  made  many  prizes.  Some  of  the  vessels 
which  they  captured  were  laden  with  arms  and  war 
like  stores.  Some  transports,  with  troops  on  board, 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  25 

were  also  taken.  These  had  run  into  the  harbor, 
not  knowing  that  the  place  was  evacuated.  The 
boats  employed  in  the  embarkation  of  the  British 
troops  had  scarcely  completed  their  business,  when 
General  Washington  with  his  army  marched  into 
Boston.  He  was  received  with  marks  of  approba 
tion  more  flattering  than  the  pomps  of  a  triumph. 
The  inhabitants,  released  from  the  severities  of  a 
garrison  life,  and  from  the  various  indignities  to 
which  they  were  subjected,  hailed  him  as  their  de 
liverer.  The  evacuation  of  Boston  had  been  pre 
viously  determined  upon  by  the  British  ministry, 
from  principles  of  political  expediency.  Being  re 
solved  to  carry  on  the  war  for  purposes  affecting  all 
the  colonies,  they  conceived  a  central  position  to  be 
preferable  to  Boston.  Policy  of  this  kind  had  in 
duced  the  adoption  of  the  measure;  but  the  Ameri 
can  works  on  Roxbury  expedited  its  execution. 

For  his  services  in  expelling  the  British  from 
Boston,  Congress  passed  a  vote  of  thanks  to  General 
Washington  and  the  army,  and  presented  the  general 
with  a  gold  medal  commemorating  the  event. 


26 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


MONTGOMERY'S  MONUMENT,  AT  ST.PAUL'S  CHURCH,  NEW  TOBK. 

EXPEDITION    AGAINST    CANADA. 

DURING  these  transactions  in  New  England,  events 
of  some  importance  took  place  in  other  parts  of 
America.  Congress  had  early  directed  its  attention 
towards  Canada,  and  endeavored  either  to  gain  the 
co-operation  or  secure  the  neutrality  of  the  inhabit 
ants  in  its  dispute  with  Britain.  Addresses  had 
been  repeatedly  sent  to  them  in  the  French  as  well 
as  the  English  language,  representing  the  tendency 
of  the  new  measures  of  Parliament ;  and  these  had 
not  been  without  some  effect.  The  Canadians 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  27 

generally  were  willing  to  remain  neutral  in  the 
contest. 

Congress  believed  them  to  be  partial  to  their  cause, 
and  resolved  to  anticipate  the  British  by  striking  a 
decided  blow  in  that  quarter.  In  this  purpose  they 
were  encouraged  by  the  success  of  the  expedition 
against  Crown  Point  and  Ticonderoga,  as  well  as  by 
the  small  number  of  troops  then  in  Canada.  They 
appointed  General  Schuyler  commander  of  the  ex 
pedition,  with  General  Montgomery  to  act  as  second 
in  command.  Early  in  September,  1775,  these 
officers,  with  about  1000  men,  made  an  ineffectual 
attack  on  Fort  St  John,  situated  on  the  river  Sorel, 
but  found  it  expedient  to  retire  to  Isle-aux-Noix,  at 
the  entrance  of  the  lake,  about  twelve  miles  above 
the  fort,  arid  wait  for  an  increase  of  their  effective 
force. 

Meanwhile,  General  Schuyler  being  taken  ill  and 
returning  to  Albany,  the  command  devolved  upon 
General  Montgomery,  wrho  was  instructed  to  prose 
cute  the  enterprise  on  receiving  reinforcements. 
These  reinforcements  soon  arrived;  the  attack  on 
Fort  St.  John  was  renewed;  and  after  a  vigorous 
defence  it  surrendered,  about  the  middle  of  Novem 
ber.  The  Americans  found  in  the  fort  a  consider 
able  number  of  brass  and  iron  cannon,  howitzers, 
and  mortars,  a  quantity  of  shot  and  small  shells, 
about  eight  hundred  stand  of  small  arms,  and 
some  naval  stores ;  but  the  powder  and  provisions 
were  nearly  exhausted. 

During  the  seige  of  Fort  St.  John,  Fort  Cham- 
blee  had  been  taken,  which  furnished  General  Mont 
gomery  with  a  plentiful  supply  of  provisions,  of 


28  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

which  his  army  stood  much  in  need.  General  Carle- 
ton,  on  his  way  from  Montreal,  had  been  defeated 
and  repulsed ;  and  Colonel  Ethan  Allen,  who  had 
made  an  unauthorized  and  rash  attack  on  Montreal, 
had  been  overcome,  made  prisoner,  and  sent  in  irons 
to  England. 

On  the  fall  of  Fort  St.  John,  General  Montgomery 
advanced  against  Montreal,  which  was  not  in  a  con 
dition  to  resist  him.  Governor  Carleton,  fully  sensi 
ble  of  his  inability  to  defend  the  town,  quitted  it- 
Next  day  General  Montgomery  entered  Montreal. 
He  treated  the  inhabitants  with  great  lenity,  re 
specting  their  religion,  property,  and  rights,  and 
gained  their  good-will  by  the  affability  of  his  man 
ners  and  the  nobleness  and  generosity  of  his  dis 
position. 

A  body  of  provincials,  under  Colonel  Easton,  had 
been  despatched  by  Montgomery,  and  took  post  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Sorel ;  and,  by  means  of  an  armed 
vessel  and  floating  batteries,  commanded  the  navi 
gation  of  the  St.  Lawrence.  The  British  force  which 
had  retreated  down  the  river  from  Montreal,  con 
sisting  of  120  soldiers  under  General  Prescott,  and 
accompanied  by  Governor  Carleton,  seeing  it  im 
practicable  to  force  a  passage,  surrendered  by  capitu 
lation.  About  midnight  the  day  before  the  capitu 
lation  Governor  Carleton  escaped  down  the  river, 
passing  through  the  American  squadron  in  a  boat 
with  muffled  oars,  and  reached  Quebec  in  safety. 

It  was  now  the  19th  of  November,  and  the  sea 
son  was  very  unfavorable  to  military  operations. 
General  Montgomery,  a  young  officer  of  superior 
talent  and  high  spirits,  found  himself  placed  in  ex- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  29 

tremely  unpleasant  circumstances.  He  was  at  the 
head  of  a  body  of  armed  men  by  no  means  de 
ficient  in  courage  and  patriotism,  but  totally  un 
accustomed  to  military  subordination.  The  term  of 
service  for  which  many  of  them  had  enlisted  was 
near  an  end ;  and,  heartily  weary  of  the  hardships 
of  the  campaign,  they  were  loudly  demanding  their 
discharge.  Nothing  but  devotion  to  the  cause  could 
have  made  the  general  continue  the  command. 
Hitherto  his  career  had  been  marked  with  success ; 
and  he  was  ambitious  of  closing  the  campaign  with 
some  brilliant  achievement,  which  should  elevate 
the  spirit  of  the  Americans  and  humble  the  pride 
of  the  British  ministry.  With  these  views,  not 
withstanding  the  advanced  season  of  the  year,  he 
hastened  towards  Quebec,  although  he  had  found  it 
necessary  to  weaken  his  army,  which  had  never  ex 
ceeded  2000  men,  by  discharging  many  of  them 
whose  terms  of  service  had  expired. 

About  the  middle  of  September,  a  detachment  of 
1100  men,  under  Colonel  Arnold,  had  been  sent 
from  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  with  orders  to  march 
across  the  country  against  Quebec,  by  a  route  which 
had  never  been  explored  and  was  but  little  known. 
The  party  embarked  at  Ne\vbury,  steered  for  the 
Kennebec,  and  ascended  that  river,  in  order  to 
reach  Canada  by  penetrating  the  forests  in  the  in 
terior  of  Maine, — a  most  difficult  and  hazardous  at 
tempt.  Their  progress  was  impeded  by  rapids  and 
by  an  almost  impassable  wilderness ;  and  they  suf 
fered  incredible  hardships  through  the  severity  of 
the  weather  and  the  want  of  provisions.  They 
separated  into  several  divisions ;  and  the  last,  undei 


30  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

Colonel  Enos,  finding  itself  unable  to  proceed,  re 
turned  to  the  camp  at  Roxbury.  But  the  other 
divisions,  under  Arnold,  pressed  forward,  and  tri 
umphed  over  every  obstacle.  For  a  month  they 
toiled  through  a  rough  and  barren  wilderness,  with 
out  seeing  a  human  habitation,  or  the  face  of  an 
individual  except  of  their  own  party;  and  their 
provisions  were  exhausted ;  so  that  Arnold  was 
obliged  to  push  forward  before  the  rest,  with  a  few 
followers,  and  obtain  a  supply  from  the  nearest 
Canadian  settlement.  At  length,  on  the  9th  of 
November,  the  party,  with  its  force  much  diminished, 
arrived  at  Point  Levi,  opposite  Quebec. 

His  appearance,  says  an  English  writer,  was  not 
unexpected ;  for  the  lieutenant-governor  had  been 
for  some  time  apprised  of  his  march.  In  the  early 
part  of  his  progress  Arnold  had  met  an  Indian,  to 
whom,  although  a  stranger,  he  had  imprudently 
trusted  a  letter  to  General  Schuyler,  under  cover,  to 
a  friend  in  Quebec.  The  Indian,  instead  of  faith 
fully  delivering  the  letter  according  to  the  direc 
tions  which  he  had  received,  carried  it  to  the  lieu 
tenant-governor,  who,  in  order  to  prevent  the 
Americans  from  passing  the  river,  immediately  re 
moved  all  the  canoes  from  Point  Levi,  and  began  to 
put  the  city  in  a  posture  of  defence,  which,  but 
for  this  folly  and  rashness  of  Arnold,  might  have 
been  easily  surprised. 

On  discovering  the  arrival  of  Arnold  at  Point 
Levi,  the  British  commander  stationed  two  vessels- 
of-war  in  the  river,  to  guard  the  passage;  and  at 
that  interesting  crisis  Colonel  McLean,  who  had  re 
treated  before  Montgomery,  arrived  from  the  Sorel, 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  31 

with  about  one  hundred  and  seventy  newly -raised 
troops  to  assist  in  defence  of  the  place. 

In  spite  of  the  vigilance  of  the  British,  Arnold 
succeeded,  on  the  night  of  the  14th  of  November, 
in  crossing  the  river  with  five  hundred  men  in  ca 
noes,  and  landed  near  the  place  where  the  brave 
and  enterprising  Wolfe  had  landed  sixteen  years 
before,  called,  from  this  circumstance,  Wolfe's  Cove. 
Not  being  able  to  convey  his  scaling-ladders  over 
the  river  with  his  troops,  he  could  not  immediately 
attack  the  town.  Instead  of  concealing  himself  till 
his  scaling  ladders  could  be  brought  forward,  and 
then  making  a  sudden  and  unexpected  attack  by 
night,  he  marched  part  of  his  troops  in  military 
parade  in  sight  of  the  garrison,  and  so  put  the 
British  fully  on  their  guard.  He  wished  to  summon 
them  to  surrender.  But  they  fired  upon  his  flag  of 
truce,  and  refused  to  hold  any  communication  with 
him.  He  therefore,  on  the  19th  of  the  month,  re 
tired  from  Quebec  to  Point  aux  Trembles,  about 
twenty  miles  above  the  city,  where  General  Mont 
gomery,  with  the  force  under  his  command,  joined 
him  on  the  1st  of  December.  From  him  the  sol 
diers  of  Arnold  received  a  supply  of  winter  clothing 
which  their  previous  condition  rendered  particularly 
acceptable. 

Soon  after  Arnold's  retreat,  Governor  Carleton 
arrived  in  Quebec,  and  exerted  himself  to  put  the 
place  in  a  state  of  defence. 

General  Montgomery,  having  brought  the  scaling- 
ladders  across  the  river,  appeared  with  his  whole 
force  before  Quebec  on  the  5th  of  December.  The 
garrison  was  then  more  numerous  than  its  assailants. 


dU  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

The  Americans  amounted  to  but  nine  hundred 
effective  men,  while  Governor  Carleton  had  about 
fifteen  hundred,  soldiers,  militia,  seamen,  and  volun 
teers,  under  his  command. 

General  Montgomery  sent  a  flag  of  truce  to  sum 
mon  the  garrison  to  surrender ;  but  it  was  fired  upon, 
as  that  of  Arnold  had  been ;  and,  although  it  was  in 
the  depth  of  a  Canadian  winter  and  in  the  most 


DEATH    OF    MONTGOMERY. 


intense  cold,  he  proceeded  to  the  difficult  task  of 
erecting  batteries ;  but  his  artillery  was  too  light  to 
make  any  impression  on  the  fortifications.  He  there 
fore  determined  to  storm  the  town ;  and  the  assault 
was  made  on  the  morning  of  the  31st  of  December. 
About  four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  in  the  midst 
of  a  violent  storm  of  snow,  two  feints  and  two  real 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS  33 

attacks  were  simultaneously  made.  The  real  attacks 
were  conducted  by  Montgomery  and  Arnold.  Mont 
gomery,  advancing  at  the  head  of  about  two  hundred 
men,  fell  by  the  first  discharge  of  grape-shot  from 
the  works.  Several  of  his  best  officers  being  killed, 
his  division  retreated.  Arnold,  at  the  head  of  about 
three  hundred  men,  in  a  different  quarter,  maintained 
a  fierce  and  obstinate  conflict  for  some  time,  but 
was  at  last  wounded  and  repulsed,  leaving  many  of 
his  men  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  The  death  of 
Montgomery  was  the  subject  of  much  regret,  as  he 
had  been  universally  loved  and  esteemed.  On  as 
sembling  after  the  assault,  so  large  a  number  had 
been  killed  or  taken  prisoners,  that  the  provincials 
could  not  muster  many  more  than  four  hundred 
effective  men,  who  chose  Arnold  for  their  com 
mander,  and,  in  the  hope  of  receiving  reinforcements, 
resolved  to  remain  in  the  vicinity  of  Quebec. 

Sir  Guy  Carleton  acquired  much  honor,  not  only 
by  his  gallant  defence  of  the  city,  but  also  by  the 
humanity  with  which  he  treated  all  his  prisoners. 
The  sick  and  wounded  he  caused  to  be  taken  care 
of,  and  permitted  them,  when  recovered,  to  return 
to  their  homes  unmolested.  The  Americans  were 
not  ignorant  of  their  own  inferiority  in  point  of 
numbers  to  the  garrison,  and  were  not  without  ap 
prehensions  of  being  attacked ;  but,  although  the 
garrison  was  three  times  more  numerous  than  the 
besieging  army,  it  was  of  such  a  mixed  and  pre 
carious  character  that  Carleton  did  not  deem  it 
prudent  to  march  out  against  his  enemy. 

A  small  reinforcement  from  Massachusetts  reached 
the  American  camp,  and  all  the  troops  that  could 

3 


84  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

be  spared  from  Montreal  marched  to  join  their 
countrymen  before  Quebec;  but  the  month  of 
February  was  far  advanced  before  the  army 
amounted  to  960  men.  Arnold,  however,  resumed 
the  siege ;  but  his  artillery  was  inadequate  to  the 
undertaking,  and  made  no  impression  on  the  works. 
Although  unsuccessful  against  the  town,  he  defeated 
a  body  of  Canadians  who  advanced  to  relieve  it, 
and  succeeded  so  well  in  cutting  off  supplies  from 
the  country  that  the  garrison  was  reduced  to  great 
distress  for  want  of  provisions. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


35 


DEFENCE  OF  FORT  MOULTRIE. 

THE  triumphant  issue  of  the  campaign  of  1775,  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Boston,  was  a  source  of  grati 
fication  to  the  colonists.  Washington  was  cordially 
hailed  as  the  deliverer  of  Massachusetts,  and  re 
ceived  a  vote  of  thanks  and  a  gold  medal  from  Con 
gress.  But  the  power  of  Britain  was  yet  to  be  felt. 
During  the  last  session  of  Parliament,  the  plan  for 
the  reduction  of  the  colonies  was  fixed.  The  Ameri 
cans  were  declared  out  of  the  royal  protection,  and, 
by  treaties  concluded  between  Great  Britain  and 
three  states  of  Germany,  17,000  mercenaries  were 
hired  to  aid  in  effecting  their  reduction. 

The  intelligence  of  these  measures  decided  the 
question  of  independence.  Protection  and  allegiance 
being  considered  reciprocal,  the  refusal  of  the  one 
justified  the  withholding  of  the  other.  Reason  and 
the  passions  were  successfully  appealed  to  by  the 
leading  patriots ;  and  a  pamphlet,  entitled  "  Common 


36  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

Sense,'5  written  by  Thomas  Paine,  arguing  in  plain 
language  the  advantages  and  necessity  of  indeperi 
dence,  effected  a  complete  revolution  in  the  feelings 
and  sentiments  of  the  great  mass  of  the  people. 

The  plan  of  the  campaign  formed  by  the  British 
generals  included  three  objects : — the  relief  of  Quebec 
and  the  recovery  of  Canada ;  the  possession  of  New 
York  as  the  centre  of  operations ;  and  the  reduction 
of  the  Southern  colonies.  The  chief  command  of  the 
forces  was  given  to  Sir  William  Howe,  a  prudent 
rather  than  an  enterprising  general.  We  have  seen 
that  Sir  Guy  Carleton  effected  the  complete  recovery 
of  Canada.  Before  the  main  expedition  could  be  got 
ready,  it  was  determined  to  send  an  armament  to 
reduce  the  Southern  colonies. 

A  squadron  under  command  of  Sir  Peter  Parker, 
conveying  2800  troops,  under  Sir  Henry  Clinton, 
arrived  at  Cape  Fear  in  May,  and  it  was  then  deter 
mined  to  attack  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  by  sea 
and  land.  Meanwhile,  the  inhabitants  had  received 
intelligence  of  the  approach  of  the  armament,  and 
made  every  exertion  to  put  the  capital  in  a  state  for 
defence.  A  fort  was  erected  on  Sullivan's  Island, 
which  is  situated  so  near  the  channel  leading  up  to 
the  town  as  to  be  a  convenient  post  for  annoying 
vessels  approaching  it.  The  garrison,  consisting  of 
375  regulars  and  a  few  militia,  was  placed  under  the 
command  of  Colonel  Moultrie. 

On  the  28th  of  June,  1776,  Sir  Peter  Parker,  with 
his  foimidable  squadron,  appeared  before  the  fort, 
and  between  ten  and  eleven  o'clock  on  that  day 
commenced  the  attack.  The  garrison  made  a  gal 
lant  and  resolute  defence.  Their  fire  was  well  aimed 


NAYAL     EXPLOITS. 


37 


and  rapid.  The  ships  were  very  much  cut  up,  and 
the  killed  and  wounded  on  board  exceeded  200  men. 
The  fort,  being  built  of  soft  palmetto-wood,  was 
little  damaged,  and  the  loss  of  the  garrison  only  ten 
men  killed  and  twenty-two  wounded. 


SIR     PETER     PARKER. 


Some  time  before  the  attack  on  the  fort,  General 
Clinton,  with  a  body  of  troops,  landed  on  Long 
Island,  with  the  intention  of  crossing  the  narrow 
passage  which  divides  the  two  islands  and  attacking 
the  fort  in  the  rear.  But  General  Charles  Lee,  who 
had  been  sent  to  take  command  of  the  forces  at 
Charleston,  stationed  Colonel  Thompson,  with  700 
or  800  men,  at  the  east  end  of  Sullivan's  Island,  to 
oppose  the  crossing,  and  the  project  was  abandoned. 
The  inhabitants  were  fully  prepared  tu  meet  the 


38  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

enemy  if  they  should  attempt  to  land,  and  dispute 
every  inch  of  ground  with  noble  resolution.  In  the 
evening  the  firing  ceased,  the  ships  slipped  their 
cables,  and  before  morning  they  had  retired  about 
two  miles  from  the  island.  Within  a  few  days,  the 
whole  armament  sailed  for  New  York,  having  sig 
nally  failed  to  accomplish  its  object.  Congress 
passed  a  vote  of  thanks  to  General  Lee,  and  Colonels 
Moultrie  and  Thompson,  for  their  gallant  conduct 
during  the  attack ;  and  the  fort  was  from  that  time 
called  Fort  Moultrie.  The  unsuccessful  attack  upon 
a  slightly-built  fort  by  a  powerful  British  armament 
could  not  but  give  the  colonists  a  higher  opinion  of 
their  own  capability  and  tend  to  lower  their  estima 
tion  of  their  adversaries.  The  event  relieved  the 
Southern  States  from  the  apprehension  of  invasion 
for  more  than  two  years,  while  the  Northern  States 
were  suffering  the  calamities  of  war. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


RETREAT    FROM    LONG    ISLAND. 

DESCENT  UPON  LONG  ISLAND. 

IN  the  month  of  August,  1776,  the  English  made 
a  descent  upon  Long  Island,  with  forty  pieces  of  can 
non,  and  under  cover  of  their  ships.  On  a  peninsula 
formed  by  the  East  River  and  Gowanus  Cove,  and 
constituting  a  part  of  the  same  island,  was  General 
Putnam,  strongly  fortified,  and  awaiting  with  his 
detachment  the  approach  of  the  king's  troops.  Be 
tween  the  armies  was  a  range  of  hills,  the  principal 
pass  through  which  was  near  a  place  called  Flatbush. 
At  this  place  the  Hessians,  forming  the  centre  of  the 
royalists,  took  their  station.  The  left  wing,  under 
the  orders  of  General  Grant,  was  close  upon  the 
shore ;  and  the  right,  commanded  by  General  Clin 
ton,  Earl  Percy,  and  Lord  Cornwallis,  and  compre- 


40  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

bending  the  chief  strength  of  the  British  forces,  ap 
proached  the  opposite  coast  of  Flat  Land.  General 
Putnam  had  directed  that  all  the  passes  should  be 
secured  by  strong  detachments  of  the  provincial  troops. 
The  orders  to  this  purpose,  though  not  disobeyed, 
were  not  complied  with  to  the  extent  that  the 
general  required ;  and  one  road  through  the  hills,  of 
the  utmost  importance,  was  entirely  neglected, — an 
oversight  which  was  speedily  communicated  to  the 
British,  and  which  they  were  too  wise  not  to  im 
prove  to  their  advantage. 

On  the  evening  of  the  26th,  Generals  Hrwe  and 
Clinton  drew  off  the  right  wing  of  the  English  army, 
in  order  to  gain  the  heights.  Nearly  about  day 
break,  he  reached  the  pass  undiscovered  by  the 
Americans,  and  immediately  took  possession  of  it. 
The  detachment  under  Lord  Percy  followed ;  and 
when  the  day  appeared,  the  royalists  advanced  into 
the  level  country  between  the  hills  and  Brooklyn, 
— a  village  situated  on  the  peninsula  where  the 
Americans  were  encamped. 

Without  loss  of  time,  Howe  and  Clinton  fell  upon 
the  rear  of  the  provincials;  and,  the  Plessians  attack 
ing  them  in  front  at  the  same  instant,  neither  valor 
nor  skill  could  save  them  from  a  defeat.  Inspirited, 
however,  by  their  generals,  and  by  the  presence  of 
Washington,  they  continued  the  engagement  for  a 
while,  and  fought  with  the  bravery  of  men  whom 
the  love  of  freedom  animates  to  deeds  of  heroism; 
but,  pressed  by  superior  numbers,  and  thrown  into 
confusion,  they  gave  wray  on  every  side  and  fled 
precipitately  to  the  woods. 

Nor  was  this  the  only  part  of  the  army  which 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  41 

suffered ;  the  right  wing,  which  opposed  General 
Grant,  experienced  a  similar  fate.  They  fought 
bravely,  and  maintained  their  ground  till  informed 
of  tL  >  defeat  of  the  left  wing,  when  they  retreated 
in  concision ;  and,  in  order  to  avoid  the  enemy,  who 
were  fai  advanced  on  their  rear,  the  greater  part  of 
them  attempted  to  escape  along  the  dike  of  a  mill- 
dam,  and  through  a  marsh,  where  many  of  them 
perished ;  but  a  remnant  regained  the  camp.  Of  a 
regiment  consisting  of  young  gentlemen  from  Mary 
land,  the  greater  part  was  cut  in  pieces,  and  not  one 
of  those  who  survived  escaped  without  a  wound. 

The  British  soldiers  behaved  with  their  usual 
courage,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  that  they  were 
restrained  from  attacking  the  American  camp ;  but 
General  Howe  checked  their  impetuosity,  believing 
that  he  could  compel  the  Americans  to  surrender  or 
to  evacuate  their  camp.  On  that  day  the  Ameri 
cans  lost  2000  men  in  killed,  wounded,  and  priso 
ners;  among  the  latter  were  Generals  Sullivan, 
Woodhull,  and  Lord  Stirling.  They  also  lost  six 
pieces  of  artillery.  The  acknowledged  British  loss 
was  21  officers,  and  346  privates,  killed,  wounded, 
and  taken. 

A  retreat  from  Long  Island  now  become  abso 
lutely  necessary  ;  and  it  was  effected  on  the  30th 
of  August,  without  the  loss  of  a  man. 

After  the  retreat  from  Long  Island  a  number  of 
indecisive  actions  were  fought,  the  most  remarkable 
of  which  were  those  of  Kingsbridge  and  White 
Plains.  Washington  ultimately  withdrew  the  main 
force  from  the  colony  of  New  York,  and  retreated 
across  New  Jersey  to  Philadelphia. 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


GENERAL    HOWE. 


BATTLE   OP   TRENTON. 

WHEN  General  Washington  crossed  the  Delaware, 
(1776,)  winter  was  fast  setting  in;  and  it  was  no 
part  of  General  Howe's  plan  -to  carry  on  military 
operations  during  that  inclement  season  of  the  year. 
Fearless  of  a  feeble  enemy,  whom  he  had  easily 
driven  before  him,  and  whom  he  confidently  ex 
pected  soon  to  annihilate,  he  cantoned  his  troops 
rather  with  a  view  to  the  convenient  resumption  of 
their  march  than  with  any  regard  to  security  against 
a  fugitive  foe.  As  he  entertained  not  the  slightest 
apprehension  of  an  attack,  he  paid  little  attention  to 
the  arrangement  of  his  several  posts  for  the  purpose 
of  mutual  support.  He  stationed  a  detachment  of 
about  1500  Hessians  at  Trenton,  under  Colonel 
Rhalle,  and  about  2000  at  Bordentown,  farther 
down  the  river,  under  Count  Donop;  the  rest  of 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  43 

his  army  was  quartered  over  the  country,  between 
the  Hackensack  and  the  Delaware. 

General  Howe  certainly  had  little  apparent  cause 
of  apprehension ;  for  his  antagonist  had  fled  beyond 
the  Delaware  at  the  head  of  only  about  2000  men, 
while  he  had  an  army  of  nearly  30,000  fine  troops 
under  his  command.  The  Congress  had  withdrawn 
from  Philadelphia,  and,  by  their  retreat,  had  thrown 
that  city  into  much  confusion.  Their  presence  had 
overawed  the  disaffected  and  maintained  the  tran 
quillity  of  the  place;  but,  on  their  removal,  the 
friends  of  the  British  claims,  to  whom  belonged  the 
great  body  of  the  Quakers,  a  timid  sect,  began  to 
bestir  themselves ;  and  General  Putnam,  who  com 
manded  there,  needed  a  considerable  force  to  pre 
serve  the  peace  of  the  city.  The  country  was  de 
jected  ;  the  friends  of  Congress  were  filled  with  the 
most  gloomy  apprehensions;  and  many  of  the  in 
habitants  repaired  to  the  British  posts,  expressed 
their  allegiance  to  the  British  crown,  and  claimed 
protection :  so  that  in  those  circumstances  General 
Howe  seemed  perfectly  secure. 

But  in  that  alarming  state  of  affairs  the  Ameri 
can  leaders  still  maintained  an  erect  posture,  and 
their  brave  and  persevering  cominander-in-chief  did 
not  despair.  Congress  actively  employed  all  the 
means  in  their  power  for  supporting  their  indepen 
dence,  and  General  Washington  applied  in  every 
quarter  for  reinforcements.  He  perceived  the  secu 
rity  of  the  British  commander-in-chief,  and  the  ad 
vantages  which  the  scattered  cantonment  of  his 
troops  presented  to  the  American  arms.  "Now," 
exclaimed  he,  on  being  informed  of  the  widely-dis- 


14  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

persed  state  of  the  British  troops,  "is  the  time  to 
clip  their  wings,  when  they  are  so  spread ;"  and,  ac 
cordingly,  he  resolved  to  make  a  bold  effort  to  check 
the  progress  of  the  enemy.  For  that  purpose  he 
planned  an  attack  on  the  Hessians  at  Trenton. 
General  Putnam,  who  was  stationed  in  Philadelphia, 
might  have  been  useful  in  creating  a  diversion  on 
that  side ;  but  in  that  city  the  disaffection  to  Con 
gress  was  so  great,  and  the  friends  of  Britain  so 
strong,  that  it  was  deemed  inexpedient  to  withdraw, 
even  for  a  short  time,  the  troops  posted  there.  But 
a  small  party  of  militia,  under  Colonel  Griffin, 
passed  the  Delaware  near  Philadelphia,  and  ad 
vanced  to  Mount  Holly.  Count  Donop  marched 
against  them,  but,  on  their  retreat,  he  returned  to 
Bordentown. 

General  Washington  formed  his  troops  into  three 
divisions,  which  were  almost  simultaneously  to  pass 
the  Delaware,  at  three  different  places,  on  the  even 
ing  of  the  25th  of  December,  hoping  to  surprise  the 
enemy  after  the  festivities  of  Christmas.  One  divi 
sion,  under  General  Cadwallader,  was  to  pass  the 
river  in  the  vicinity  of  Bristol,  but  failed  through 
inattention  to  the  state  of  the  tide  and  of  the  river, 
as  they  could  not  land  on  account  of  the  heaps  of 
ice  accumulated  on  the  Jersey  bank.  The  second 
division,  under  General  Irving,  was  to  pass  at  Tren 
ton  ferry,  but  was  unable  to  make  its  way  through 
the  ioe.  The  third  and  main  division,  under  the  com 
mand  of  General  Washington  in  person,  assisted  by 
Generals  Sullivan  and  Greene,,  and  Colonel  Knox  of 
the  artillery,  accomplished  the  passage,  with  great 
difficulty,  at  McKon key's  Ferry,  about  nine  milea 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  45 

above  Trenton.  The  general  had  expected  to  have 
his  troops  on  the  Jersey  side  about  midnight,  and  to 
reach  Trenton  about  five  in  the  morning.  But  the 
difficulties  arising  from  the  accumulation  of  ice  in 
the  river  were  so  great,  that  it  was  three  o'clock  in 
the  morning  before  the  troops  got  across,  and  nearly 
four  before  they  began  to  move  forward.  They 
were  formed  in  two  divisions,  one  of  which  proceeded 
towards  Trenton  by  the  lower  or  river  road,  and  the 
other  by  the  upper  or  Pennington  road. 

Colonel  Rhalle  had  received  some  intimation  that 
an  attack  on  his  post  was  meditated,  and  probably 
would  be  made  on  the  evening  of  the  twenty-fifth. 
Captain  Washington,  afterwards  much  distinguished 
as  an  officer  of  cavalry,  had  for  some  days  been  on 
a  sco u ting-party  in  the  Jerseys  with  about  fifty  foot- 
soldiers;  and,  ignorant  of  the  meditated  attack  on 
the  evening  of  the  twenty-fifth,  had  approached 
Trenton,  exchanged  a  few  shots  with  the  advanced 
sentinels,  and  then  retreated.  The  Hessians  con 
cluded  that  this  was  the  threatened  attack,  and 
became  quite  secure.  Captain  Washington,  in  his 
retreat,  met  the  general  advancing  against  Trenton 
by  the  upper  road,  and  joined  him.  Although  some 
apprehensions  were  entertained  that  the  alarm  ex 
cited  by  Captain  Washington's  appearance  might 
have  put  the  Hessians  on  their  guard,  yet,  as  there 
was  now  no  room  either  for  hesitation  or  delay,  the 
Americans  steadily  continued  their  march.  The 
night  was  severe  :  it  sleeted,  snowed,  and  was  in 
tensely  cold,  and  the  road  slippery.  But  General 
Washington  advanced  firmly,  and  at  eight  o'clock 
in  the  morning  reached  the  Hessian  advanced  posts, 


46  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

which  he  instantly  drove  in  ;  and,  so  equal  had- been 
the  progress  of  the  columns,  that  in  three  minutes 
afterwards  the  firing  on  the  river  road  announced 
the  arrival  of  the  other  division. 

Colonel  Khalle,  who  was  a  courageous  officer,  soon 
had  his  men  under  arms,  and  prepared  for  a  brave 
defence;  but  early  in  the  engagement  he  received 
a  mortal  wound,  and  his  men  being  severely  galled 
by  the  American  artillery,  about  one  thousand  of 
them  threw  down  their  arms  and  surrendered  them 
selves  prisoners  of  war ;  but  a  considerable  body  of 
them,  chiefly  light  horse,  retreated  towards  Borden- 
town  and  made  their  escape. 

In  this  attack  not  many  Hessians  were  killed,  and 
the  Americans  lost  only  four  or  five  men,  some  of 
whom  were  frozen  to  death  by  the  intense  cold  of 
the  night.  Some  of  General  Washington's  officers 
wished  him  to  follow  up  his  success,  and  he  was 
much  inclined  to  pursue  that  course ;  but  a  coun 
cil  of  war  was  averse  to  the  measure,  and  he  did 
not  think  it  advisable  to  act  contrary  to  the  pre 
vailing  opinion.  On  the  evening  of  the  twenty-sixth 
he  repassed  the  Delaware,  carrying  his  prisoners 
along  with  him,  and  their  arms,  colors,  and  ar 
tillery. 

This  enterprise,  although  it  failed  in  several  of  its 
parts,  was  completely  successful  in  so  far  as  it  was 
under  the  immediate  direction  of  the  commander-in- 
chief ;  and  it  had  a  happy  effect  on  the  affairs  of 
America.  It  was  the  first  wave  of  the  returning 
tide.  It  filled  the  British  with  astonishment ;  and 
the  Hessians,  whose  name  had  before  inspired  the 
people  with  fear,  ceased  to  be  terrible.  The  pri- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


47 


soners  were  paraded  through  the  streets  of  Philadel 
phia  to  prove  the  reality  of  the  victory,  which  the 
friends  of  the  British  government  had  denied.  The 
hopes  of  the  Americans  were  revived,  and  their 
spirits  elevated ;  they  had  a  clear  proof  that  their 
enemies  were  not  invincible,  and  that  union,  cou 
rage,  and  perseverance,  would  insure  success. 


•ATfLI-GBOUSD    0V    TE1ITOE. 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


.t  MERCER'S  MONUMENT  AT  LAUREL  HILL  CEMETERY^  PHILADELPHIA. 

BATTLE   OF   PRINCETON. 

THE  alarm  was  now  spread  throughout  the  British 
army.  A  strong  detachment  under  General  Grant 
marched  to  Princeton ;  and  Earl  Cornwallis,  who 
was  on  the  point  of  sailing  for  England,  was  ordered 
to  leave  New  York  and  resume  his  command  in  the 
Jerseys. 

On  joining  General  Grant,  Lord  Cornwallis  imme 
diately  marched  against  Trenton.  On  his  approach, 
General  Washington  crossed  a  rivulet  named  the 
Asumpinck,  and  took  post  on  some  high  ground, 
with  the  rivulet  in  his  front.  On  the  advance  of 
the  British  army  on  the  aftqrnoon  of  the  2d  of  Janu- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  43 

ary,  1777,  a  smart  cannonade  ensued,  and  continued 
till  night.  Lord  Cornwallis  intending  to  renew  the 
attack  next  morning ;  but  soon  after  midnight  Gene 
ral  Washington  silently  decamped,  leaving  his  fires 
burning,  his  sentinels  advanced,  and  small  parties 
to  guard  the  fords  of  the  rivulet,  and,  by  a  circuit 
ous  route  through  Allentown,  proceeded  towards 
Princeton. 

It  was  the  most  inclement  season  of  the  year;  but 
the  weather  favored  his  movement.  For  two  days 
before  it  had  been  warm,  soft,  and  foggy,  and  great 
apprehensions  were  entertained  lest,  by  the  depth 
of  the  roads,  it  should  be  found  impossible  to  trans 
port  the  baggage  and  artillery  with  the  requisite 
celerity;  but  about  the  time  the  troops  began  to 
move,  one  of  those  sudden  changes  of  weather  which 
are  not  unfrequent  in  America  happened.  The 
wind  shifted  to  the  northwest  while  the  council  of 
war  which  was  to  decide  on  their  ulterior  operations 
was  sitting.  An  intense  frost  set  in ;  and,  instead 
of  being  obliged  to  struggle  through  a  miry  road, 
the  army  marched  as  on  solid  pavement.  The 
American  soldiers  considered  the  change  of  weather 
as  an  interposition  of  heaven  in  their  behalf,  and 
proceeded  on  their  way  with  alacrity. 

Earl  Cornwallis,  in  his  rapid  march  towards  Tren 
ton,  had  left  three  regiments,  under  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Mawhood,  at  Princeton,  with  orders  to 
advance  on  the  third  of  the  month  to  Maidenhead, 
a  village  about  half-way  between  Princeton  and 
Trenton.  General  Washington  approached  Prince 
ton  towards  daybreak,  and  shortly  before  that  time 
Colonel  Maw  hood's  detachment  had  bejmn  to  ad- 


50  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

vance  towards  Maidenhead,  by  a  road  at  a  little 
distance  from  that  on  which  the  Americans  were 
marching.  The  two  armies  unexpectedly  met,  and 
a  smart  engagement  instantly  ensued.  At  first  the 
Americans  were  thrown  into  some  confusion ;  but 
General  Washington,  by  great  personal  exertions, 
restored  order,  and  renewed  the  battle.  Colonel 
Mawhood,  with  a  part  of  his  force,  broke  through 
the  American  army,  and  continued  his  route  to 
Maidenhead ;  the  remainder  of  his  detachment,  be 
ing  unable  to  advance,  retreated  by  different  roads 
to  Brunswick. 

In  this  rencounter  a  considerable  number  of  men 
fell  on  each  side.  The  Americans  lost  General 
Mercer,  whose  death  was  much  lamented  by  his 
countrymen.  Captain  Leslie,  son  of  the  Earl  of 
Leven,  was  among  the  slain  on  the  side  of  the 
British ;  and  he  was  buried  with  military  honours 
by  the  Americans,  in  testimony  of  respect  not  tc 
himself  merely,  but  to  his  family  also. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


WASHINGTON'S   HEAD-QUARTERS  AT   BRANDYWINB. 

BATTLE  OF   THE   BRANDYWINE. 

AT  the  opening  of  the  campaign  of  1777,  the 
movements  of  General  Howe  greatly  perplexed  the 
American  commander-in-chief,  who  dreaded  a  junc 
tion  of  the  forces  under  Generals  Howe  and  Bur- 
goyne;  and  who  could  scarcely  believe  that  the 
former  would  sail  to  the  southward  and  abandon 
the  latter,  who  was  advancing  from  Quebec,  by  way 
of  the  Lakes  Champlain  and  George,  towards  Albany. 
He  also  received  contradictory  accounts  of  the  course 
which  General  Howe  had  steered ;  sometimes  it  was 
said  that  he  was  returning  to  the  North  River,  and 
sometimes  that  the  Delaware  was  the  place  of  his 
destination,  which  last  was  the  true  account.  But  at 
that  season  of  the  year  southerly  winds  prevail  on  the 
coast ;  and  it  was  the  30th  of  July  before  the  British 
commander  reached  the  capes  of  the  Delaware. 


52  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

His  original  intention  was  to  sail  up  the  river  to 
Philadelphia;  but,  being  informed  that  the  Ameri 
cans  had  obstructed  the  navigation,  he  altered  his 
plan,  and,  still  steering  southward,  entered  Chesa 
peake  Bay.  On  the  appearance  of  the  British  arm* 
ament  off  the  Delaware,  General  Washington  moved 
towards  Philadelphia ;  but,  being  told  that  the  fleet 
had  again  put  to  sea,  his  perplexity  returned,  and 
he  held  himself  in  readiness  to  march  with  the 
utmost  rapidity  towards  the  North  River,  if  needful. 
But,  on  the  24th  of  August,  he  was  relieved  from 
his  painful  suspense  by  certain  information  that  the 
British  fleet  had  sailed  up  the  Chesapeake  Bay,  and 
that  the  army  was  landing  at  the  head  of  the  Elk 
River. 

At  the  place  of  debarkation  the  British  army  was 
within  a  few  days'  march  of  Philadelphia ;  no  great 
rivers  were  in  its  way;  and  there  was  no  very 
strong  position  of  which  the  enemy  could  take  pos 
session.  On  landing,  General  Howe  issued  a  pro 
clamation,  promising  pardon  and  protection  to  all 
who  should  submit  to  him;  but,  as  the  American 
army  was  at  hand,  the  proclamation  produced  little 
effect. 

General  Washington  distinctly  understood  the 
nature  of  the  contest  in  which  he  was  engaged ; 
and,  sensible  of  the  inferiority  of  his  raw  and  dis 
orderly  army  to  the  veteran  troops  under  Sir  Wil 
liam  Howe,  he  wished  to  avoid  a  general  engage 
ment;  but,  aware  of  the  effect  which  the  fall  of 
Philadelphia  would  produce  on  the  minds  of  the 
people,  he  determined  to  make  every  effort  in  order 
to  retard  the  progress  and  defeat  the  aim  of  the  royal 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  53 

army.  Accordingly,  he  marched  to  meet  General 
Howe,  who,  from  want  of  horses,  many  of  which 
had  perished  in  the  voyage,  and  from  other  causes, 
was  unable  to  proceed  from  the  head  of  the  Elk 
before  the  3d  of  September.  On  the  advance  of  the 
royal  army,  General  Washington  retreated  across  the 
Brandy  wine,  a  rivulet  or  creek  which  falls  into  the 
Delaware  at  Wilmington.  He  took  post,  with  his 
main  body,  opposite  Chad's  Ford,  where  it  was  ex 
pected  the  British  would  attempt  the  passage;  and 
ordered  General  Sullivan,  with  a  detachment,  to 
watch  the  fords  above.  He  sent  General  Maxwell, 
with  about  1000  light  troops,  to  occupy  the  high 
ground  on  the  other  side  of  the  Brandywine,  to 
skirmish  with  the  British,  and  retard  them  in  their 
progress. 

On  the  morning  of  the  llth  of  September,  the 
British  army  advanced  in  two  columns;  the  right, 
under  General  Knyphausen,  marched  straight  to 
Chad's  Ford;  the  left,  under  Lord  Cornwallis,  ac 
companied  by  the  commander-in-chief  and  Generals 
Grey,  Grant,  and  Agnew,  proceeded,  by  a  circuitous 
route,  towards  a  point  named  the  Forks,  where  the 
two  branches  of  the  Brandywine  unite,  with  a  view 
to  turn  the  right  of  the  Americans  and  gain  their 
rear.  General  Knyphausen's  van  soon  found  itself 
opposed  to  the  light  troops  under  General  Maxwell. 
A  smart  conflict  ensued.  General  Knyphausen  re 
inforced  his  advanced  guard  and  drove  the  Ameri 
cans  across  the  rivulet,  to  shelter  themselves  under 
their  batteries  on  the  north  bank.  General  Knyp 
hausen  ordered  some  artillery  to  be  placed  on  the 
most  advantageous  points,  and  a  cannonade  was 


54  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

carried  on  with  the  American  batteries  on  the 
heights  beyond  the  ford. 

Meanwhile,  the  left  wing  of  the  British  crossed 
the  fords  above  the  Forks.  Of  this  movement 
General  Washington  had  early  notice.  After  pass 
ing  the  fords,  Lord  Cornwallis  took  the  road  to  Dil- 
worth,  which  led  him  on  the  American  right. 
General  Sullivan  occupied  the  heights  above  Bir 
mingham  church,  his  left  extending  to  the  Brandy- 
wine,  his  artillery  judiciously  placed,  and  his  right 
flank  covered  by  woods.  About  four  in  the  after 
noon  Lord  Cornwallis  formed  the  line  of  battle  and 
began  the  attack ;  for  some  time  the  Americans  sus 
tained  it  with  intrepidity,  but  at  length  gave  way. 
When  General  Washington  heard  the  firing  in  that 
direction,  he  ordered  General  Greene  with  a  brigade  to 
support  General  Sullivan.  General  Greene  marched 
four  miles  in  forty-two  minutes,  but,  on  reaching  the 
scene  of  action,  he  found  General  Sullivan's  division 
defeated  and  fleeing  in  confusion.  He  covered  the 
retreat;  and,  after  some  time,  finding  an  advanta 
geous  position,  he  renewed  the  battle,  and  arrested 
the  progress  of  the  pursuing  enemy. 

General  Knyphausen,  as  soon  as  he  heard  the 
firing  of  Lord  Cornwallis's  division,  forced  the  pas 
sage  of  Chad's  Ford,  attacked  the  troops  opposed 
to  him,  and  compelled  them  to  make  a  precipitate 
and  disorderly  retreat.  General  Washington,  with 
the  part  of  his  army  which  he  was  able  to  keep 
together,  retired,  with  his  artillery  and  baggage, 
to  Chester,  where  he  halted,  within  eight  miles 
of  the  British  army,  till  next  morning,  when  he 
retreated  to  Philadelphia. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  55 


ADMIRAL     LORD     HOWE. 


BATTLE  OF  GERMANTOWN. 

ON  receiving  information  of  the  success  of  the 
royal  army  under  his  brother  at  Brandywine, 
Admiral  Lord  Howe  left  the  Chesapeake  and  steered 
for  the  Delaware,  where  he  arrived  on  the  8th  of 
October.  As  soon  as  General  Howe  had  gained  pos 
session  of  Philadelphia,  he  began  to  clear  the  course 
of  the  river,  in  order  to  open  a  free  communication 
with  the  fleet. 

The  Americans  had  laboured  assiduously  to  ob 
struct  the  navigation  of  the  Delaware  ;  and,  for  that 
purpose,  had  sunk  three  rows  of  chevaux-de-frise, 
formed  of  large  beams  of  timber  bolted  together, 
with  strong  projecting  iron  spikes,  across  the  channel, 
a  little  below  the  place  where  the  Schuylkill  falls  into 
the  Delaware.  The  upper  and  lower  rows  were 
commanded  by  fortifications  on  the  banks  and  islands 
of  the  river,  and  by  floating  batteries. 

While  the  detachments  employed  in  assisting  to 
clear  the  course  of  the  river  weakened  the  royal 


56 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


army  at  Germantown,  General  Washington,  who 
lay  encamped  at  Skippach  Creek,  on  the  north  side 
of  the  Schuylkill,  about  seventeen  miles  from  Ger- 
mantown,  meditated  an  attack  upon  it.  German- 
town  consisted  of  one  street  about  two  miles  long; 
the  line  of  the  British  encampment  bisected  the 
village  almost  at  right  angles,  and  had  its  left 
covered  by  the  Schuylkill.  General  Washington, 


ATTACK     ON     MR.   CHEW'S     HOUSE. 


having  been  reinforced  by  1500  troops  from  Peeks- 
kill,  and  1000  Virginia  militia,  marched  from  Skip 
pach  Creek  on  the  evening  of  the  3d  of  October,  and 
at  dawn  of  day  next  morning  attacked  the  royal 
army.  After  a  smart  conflict,  he  drove  in  the 
advanced  guard,  which  was  stationed  at  the  head 
of  the  village,  and,  with  his  army  divided  into  five 
columns,  prosecuted  the  attack;  but  Lieutenant- 


NAYAL     EXPLOITS.  57 

Colonel  Musgrave,  of  the  40th  regiment,  which  had 
been  driven  in,  and  who  had  been  able  to  keep  five 
companies  of  the  regiment  together,  threw  himself 
into  Mr.  Chew's  large  stone  house  in  the  village, 
which  stood  in  front  of  the  main  column  of  the 
Americans;  arid  there  almost  a  half  of  General 
Washington's  army  was  detained  for  a  considerable 
time.  Instead  of  masking  the  house  with  a  sufficient 
force  and  advancing  rapidly  with  their  main  body, 
the  Americans  attacked  the  house,  which  was  ob 
stinately  defended.  This  saved  the  British  army ; 
for  the  critical  moment  was  lost  in  fruitless  attempts 
on  the  house ;  the  royal  troops  had  time  to  get  under 
arms  and  be  in  readiness  to  resist  or  attack  as  cir 
cumstances  required.  General  Grey  came  to  the 
assistance  of  Colonel  Musgrave.  The  engagement  for 
some  time  was  general  and  wrarm ;  at  length  the 
Americans  began  to  give  way,  and  effected  a  retreat 
with  all  their  artillery.  The  morning  wras  very 
foggy,, — a  circumstance  which  had  prevented  the 
Americans  .from  combining  and  conducting  their 
operations  as  they  otherwise  might  have  done,  but 
which  now  favored  their  retreat  by  concealing  their 
movements. 

In  this  engagement  the  British  had  600  men  killed 
or  wounded ;  among  the  slain  were  Brigadier-Gene 
ral  Agnew  and  Colonel  Bird,  officers  of  distin 
guished  reputation.  The  Americans  lost  an  equal 
number  in  killed  and  wounded,  besides  400  who 
were  taken  prisoners.  General  Nash,  of  North 
Carolina,  was  among  those  who  were  killed.  After 
the  battle,  General  Washington  returned  to  his  en 
campment  at  Skippach  Creek. 


58  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


PORT    MIFPLIN. 


BATTLES  OF  RED   BANK  AND   FORT 
MIFFLIN. 

ALTHOUGH  the  British  army  had  been  success 
ful  in  repulsing  the  Americans,  yet  their  situation 
was  not  comfortable ;  nor  could  they  easily  main 
tain  themselves  in  Pennsylvania  unless  the  naviga 
tion  of  the  Delaware  were  opened  and  a  free  com 
munication  established  between  the  fleet  and  army. 
The  upper  line  of  chevaux-de-frise  was  protected 
by  a  work  named  Fort  Mifflin,  erected  on  a  marshy 
island  in  the  Delaware  called  Mud  Island,  formed 
by  an  accumulation  of  sand  and  vegetable  mould 
near  the  Pennsylvania  bank  of  the  river,  and  by 
a  redoubt,  called  Red  Bank,  on  the  Jersey  side.  At 
a  small  distance  below  Mud  Island,  and  nearly  in  a 
line  with  it,  are  two  others,  named  Province  and 
Hog's  Islands ;  between  these  and  the  Pennsylvania 
bank  of  the  river  was  a  narrow  channel,  of  sufficient 
depth  to  admit  ships  of  moderate  draught  of  water. 
The  reduction  of  Forts  Mifflin  and  Red  Bank,  and  the 
opening  of  the  Delaware,  were  of  essential  importance 
to  the  British  army  in  the  occupation  of  Philadelphia. 
In  order,  therefore,  that  he  might  be  able  more  con- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  59 

veniently  to  assist  in  those  operations,  General  Howe, 
on  the  19th  of  October,  withdrew  his  army  from 
German-town,  and  encamped  in  the  vicinity  of 
Philadelphia. 

He  despatched  Colonel  Count  Donop,  a  German 
officer,  with  three  battalions  of  Hessian  grenadiers, 
the  regiment  of  Mirbach,  and  some  light  infantry, 
to  reduce  Red  Bank.  This  detachment  crossed  the 
Delaware  at  Philadelphia  on  the  evening  of  the  21st 
of  October,  and  next  afternoon  reached  the  place  of 
its  destination.  Count  Donop  summoned  the  fort  to 
surrender ;  but  Colonel  Christopher  Greene,  of  Rhode 
Island,  who  commanded  in  the  redoubt,  answered 
that  he  would  defend  his  post  to  the  last  extremity. 
Count  Donop  immediately  led  his  troops  to  the  as 
sault,  advancing  under  a  close  fire  from  the  fort 
and  from  the  American  vessels-of-war  and  floating 
batteries  on  the  river;  he  forced  an  extensive  and 
unfinished  outwork,  but  could  make  no  impression 
on  the  redoubt.  The  count  was  mortally  wounded ; 
the  second  in  command  also  was  disabled ;  and, 
after  a  desperate  conflict  and  severe  loss,  the  assail 
ants  were  compelled  to  retreat  under  a  fire  similar 
to  that  which  had  met  them  in  their  advance. 
Colonel  Donop  was  made  prisoner,  and  soon  died  of 
his  wounds. 

The  disaster  did  not  terminate  here.  That  part 
of  the  fleet  which  co-operated  in  the  attack  was 
equally  unfortunate.  The  Augusta,  Roebuck,  Liver 
pool,  Pearl,  and  Merlin,  vessels-of-war,  had  passed 
through  an  opening  in  the  lower  line  of  chevaux-de- 
frise,  and,  on  the  commencement  of  Count  Donop's 
attack,  moved  up  the  river  with  the  flowing  tide. 


60  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

But  the  artificial  obstructions  had  altered  the  course 
of  the  channel  and  raised  sand-banks  where  none 
existed  before.  Hence  the  Augusta  and  Merlin 
grounded  a  little  below  the  second  row  of  chevaux- 
de-frise.  At  the  return  of  the  tide  every  exertion 
was  made  to  get  them  off,  but  in  vain.  In  the 
morning  the  Americans,  perceiving  their  condition, 
began  to  fire  upon  them,  and  sent  fire-ships  against 
them.  The  Augusta  caught  fire ;  and,  the  flames 
spreading  rapidly,  it  was  with  the  utmost  difficulty 
that  the  crew  were  got  out  of  her.  The  second 
lieutenant,  chaplain,  gunner,  and  some  seamen, 
perished  in  the  flames ;  but  the  greater  part  of  the 
crewr  was  saved.  The  Merlin  was  abandoned  and 
destroyed. 

Notwithstanding  these  misfortunes,  the  operations 
requisite  for  reducing  the  forts  on  the  river  were 
carried  on  with  great  activity.  Batteries  were 
erected  on  the  Pennsylvania  bank  opposite  Mud 
Island ;  but,  from  the  difficulty  of  constructing 
works  on  marshy  ground,  and  of  transporting  heavy 
artillery  through  swamps,  much  time  was  consumed 
before  they  could  be  got  ready  to  act  with  effect. 
The  British  also  took  possession  of  Province  Island, 
and,  although  it  was  almost  wholly  overflowed, 
erected  works  upon  it. 

On  the  15th  of  November,  every  thing  was  ready 
for  a  grand  attack  on  Fort  Mifflin.  The  Vigilant 
armed  ship  and  a  hulk,  both  mounted  with  heavy 
cannon,  passed  up  the  strait  between  Hog  and  Pro 
vince  Islands  and  the  Pennsylvania  bank,  in  order 
to  take  their  station  opposite  the  weakest  part  of 
the  fort.  The  Isis,  Somerset,  Roebuck,  and  several 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  61 

frigates,  sailed  up  the  main  channel  as  far  as  the 
second  line  of  chevaux-de-frise  would  permit  them, 
and  placed  themselves  in  front  of  the  work. 

The  little  garrison  of  Fort  Mifflin,  not  exceeding 
300  men,  had  greatly  exerted  themselves  in  oppos 
ing  and  retarding  the  operations  of  the  British  fleet 
and  army  against  them ;  and  in  this  desperate  crisis 
their  courage  did  not  forsake  them.  A  terrible  can 
nonade  against  Fort  Mifflin  was  begun  and  carried 
on  by  the  British  batteries  and  shipping,  and  was 
answered  by  the  fort,  by  the  American  galleys  and 
floating  batteries  on  the  river,  and  by  their  works 
on  the  Jersey  bank.  In  the  course  of  the  day,  the 
fort  was  in  a  great  measure  demolished  and  many 
of  the  guns  dismounted.  The  garrison,  finding 
their  post  no  longer  tenable,  retired,  by  means  of 
their  shipping,  during  the  night.  Two  days  after 
wards,  the  post  at  Ked  Bank  was  evacuated  also. 
Lord  Cornwallis  marched  against  it;  but  the  gar 
rison  retreated  before  his  arrival. 


62 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


GENERAL     SCHUYLER. 


BATTLE   OF   BENNINGTON. 

THE  object  of  the  invasion  of  Burgoyne,  under 
taken  in  1777,  was  to  possess  himself  of  all  the 
defences  from  Canada  to  New  York,  cut  off  New 
England  from  the  Middle  and  Southern  provinces, 
and  then  conquer  it.  At  first  he  was  successful. 
In  the  course  of  a  few  days  after  the  commencement 
of  active  operations,  he  captured  Ticbnderoga  and 
Mount  Independence,  drove  the  Americans  from 
Lakes  Champlairi  and  George,  and  compelled  them 
to  seek  shelter  behind  the  Hudson.  General  Schuy- 
ler  resisted  his  advance  by  blocking  up  the  roads, 
and  retreated  from  Fort  Edward  to  Saratoga. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  63 

The  invading  general  now  found  himself  in  want 
of  supplies.  In  these  circumstances,  General  Bur- 
goyne  conceived  the  plan  of  procuring  a  supply  for 
his  army  from  a  different  quarter.  It  was  well 
known  that  the  American  army  received  live  cattle 
from  New  England,  which  were  collected  at  Ben- 
nington,  twenty-four  miles  east  from  the  Hudson, 
where  a  large  deposit  of  carriages,  corn,  flour,  and 
other  necessaries,  had  been  made.  For  this  purpose 
he  moved  down  the  east  side  of  the  Hudson,  and 
encamped  nearly  opposite  Saratoga,  which  place  the 
American  arrny  left  on  the  15th  of  August,  and 
retreated  to  the  confluence  of  the  Mohawk  and 
Hudson  Rivers.  He  sent  his  van  across  the  river 
by  a  bridge  of  boats;  and  at  the  same  time  de 
spatched  Colonel  Baurn,  a  German  officer,  with  500 
men,  partly  cavalry,  two  pieces  of  artillery,  and  100 
Indians,  to  surprise  Bennirigton. 

General  Stark,  with  the  New  Hampshire  militia, 
400  strong,  happened  to  be  in  that  vicinity,  on  his 
way  to  join  General  Schuyler.  He  heard  first  of 
the  approach  of  the  Indians,  and  soon  afterwards 
was  informed  that  they  were  supported  by  a  regular 
force.  He  collected  his  brigade,  sent  expresses  to 
the  neighboring  militia  to  join  him,  and  also  to 
Colonel  Warner's  regiment  at  Manchester.  On  the 
morning  of  the  14th  of  August  he  marched  against 
the  enemy  at  the  head  of  700  men,  and  sent  Colonel 
Gregg,  with  200  men,  to  skirmish  in  their  front  and 
retard  their  progress.  He  drew  up  his  men  in  order 
of  battle ;  but,  on  coming  in  sight  of  him,  Baume 
halted  on  advantageous  ground,  sent  an  express 
to  General  Burgoyne,  informing  him  of  his  situa- 


64 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


tion,  and  fortified  himself  as  well  as  circumstances 
would  permit. 

Some  small  skirmishing-parties  of  the  Americans 
killed  several  Germans  and  two  Indian  chiefs,  with 
out  sustaining  any  loss ;  and  this  slight  success  not 
a  little  elated  them.  In  a  council  of  war,  it  was 


BATTLB     OF    BBMNINOTOtf. 


resolved  to  attack  Baum  next  day;  but  next  day  it 
rained  incessantly,  and  the  attack  could  not  be  made, 
although  there  was  some  skirmishing. 

On  the  morning  of  the  16th,  Stark,  having  re- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  65 

ceived  some  reinforcements,  sent  detachments  by 
the  right  and  left  of  the  enemy,  with  orders  to  unite 
in  their  rear  and  begin  the  attack  in  that  quarter. 
But,  before  they  met,  the  Indians  retreated  between 
the  columns,  and,  receiving  a  fire  as  they  passed,  sus 
tained  some  loss.  The  detachments,  according  to 
orders,  began  to  attack  on  the  rear  of  the  enemy, 
and  were  assisted  by  Stark,  who  instantly  advanced 
to  the  charge  in  front.  Baurn  made  a  brave  de 
fence.  The  battle  lasted  two  hours,  during  which  he 
was  furiously  assailed  on  every  side  by  an  incessant 
discharge  of  musketry.  He  was  mortally  wounded; 
his  troops  were  overpowered ;  a  few  of  them  escaped 
into  the  woods  and  fled,  pursued  by  the  Americans ; 
the  rest  were  killed  or  taken  prisoners.  Tims,  with 
out  artillery,  with  old  rusty  firelocks,  and  with 
scarcely  a  bayonet,  these  militia  entirely  defeated 
500  veterans,  well  armed,  provided  with  two  pieces 
of  artillery,  and  defended  by  breastworks. 

After  the  victory  the  greater  part  of  the  militia 
dispersed  in  quest  of  booty,  and  their  avidity  for 
spoil  nearly  proved  fatal  to  them;  for,  on  receiving 
Baum's  express,  General  Burgoyne  ordered  Colonel 
Brehman,  who  had  before  been  sent  forward  to  Bat 
ten  Hill  for  the  purpose,  to  march  to  the  assistance 
of  his  countrymen  with  the  Brunswick  grenadiers, 
light  infantry,  and  chasseurs,  amounting  to  500  men. 
Colonel  Brehman  set  out  at  eight  in  the  morning 
of  the  15th;  but  the  roads  were  rendered  almost 
impassable  by  incessant  rains;  and,  although  he 
marched  with  the  utmost  diligence,  yet  it  was  four 
the  next  afternoon  before  he  reached  the  vicinity 
of  the  place  where  his  countrymen  had  been  de- 


66  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

-- 

feated.  The  first  notice  which  he  received  ot 
Baum's  disaster  was  from  the  fugitives  whom  he 
met.  He  easily  repulsed  the  few  militia  who  were 
in  pursuit  of  them  ;  and  from  the  scattered  state  f 
Stark's  troops,  had  the  prospect  of  being  able  to 
make  himself  master  of  the  stores,  which  were  the 
great  object  of  the  expedition.  But,  at  that  critical 
moment,  Colonel  Warner's  regiment  of  continentals 
arrived,  and  instantly  engaged  Brehman.  The  firing 
reassembled  the  scattered  militia,  who  joined  in  the 
battle  as  they  came  up.  Colonel  Brehman  main 
tained  the  contlict  till  dark ;  when,  abandoning  his 
artillery  and  baggage,  he  retreated,  and,  escaping 
under  cover  of  night,  with  the  shattered  remnant  of 
his  detachment,  regained  the  camp. 

In  these  engagements  the  Americans  took  four 
brass  field-pieces,  about  one  thousand  muskets,  (a 
most  seasonable  supply  to  the  ill-armed  militia,) 
nine  hundred  swords,  and  four  baggage- wagons. 
Exclusive  of  Canadians  and  other  loyalists,  the  loss 
of  the  royal  army  could  not  be  less  than  700  men  in 
killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  although  General 
Burgoyne  stated  it  at  only  about  400.  The  Ameri 
cans  admitted  the  loss  of  about  100  in  killed  and 
wounded ;  but  this  was  certainly  under  the  truth. 

This  was  the  first  check  which  General  Bur- 
goyne's  anny  had  met  with,  arid  it  was  a  severe 
one,  and  had  a  fatal  influence  on  the  campaign. 
The  loss  of  a  few  hundred  men  was  nothing,  com 
pared  with  the  effects  which  it  produced  upon  the 
minds  of  the  people;  it  greatly  elated  them,  and 
gave  the  militia,  who  had  been  much  dispirited  by 
the  late  defeats,  confidence  in  themselves,  and  en- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


67 


couraged  them  to  hasten  to  the  army  in  great  num 
bers,  in  order  to  consummate  the  work  which  they 
had  begun.  Before  the  events  in  the  vicinity  of 
Bennington,  dejection  and  alarm  pervaded  the  North 
ern  provinces ;  but  those  events  dispelled  the  gloom, 
infused  spirit  and  vigor  into  the  militia,  and  gave  a 
new  aspect  to  affairs  on  the  Hudson. 


•KIIKAL   BCHUTLKR'B  RESIDENCE,  SOHOTLIK  YILI*. 


68 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


ARNOLD    AT    BEHMUS'S    HEIGHTS. 

BATTLE   OF  BEHMUS'S   HEIGHTS. 

ON  the  19th  of  August,  1777,  General  Schuyler 
was  superseded,  and  the  command  of  the  Northern 
army  was  assumed  by  General  Gates. 

General  Gates,  who  was  now  joined  by  all  the 
Continental  troops  destined  for  the  Northern  depart 
ment,  and  reinforced  by  considerable  bodies  of  mili 
tia,  left  the  strong  position  which  Schuyler  had 
taken  at  the  confluence  of  the  Mohawk  with  the 
Hudson,  eight  miles  above  Albany,  proceeded  sixteen 
miles  up  the  river  towards  the  enemy,  and  formed 
a  strong  camp  near  Stillwater.  The  two  armies 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  69 

were  only  about  twelve  miles  distant  from  each 
other;  but  the  bridges  between  them  were  broken 
down,  the  roads  were  bad,  and  the  country  was 
covered  with  woods ;  consequently,  the  progress  of 
the  British  army,  encumbered  by  its  fine  train  of 
artillery  and  numerous  wagons  was  slow,  and  it 
was  attended  with  some  skirmishing. 

On  the  evening  of  the  17th,  General  Burgoyne 
encamped  within  four  miles  of  the  American  army, 
and  spent  the  next  day  in  repairing  the  bridges  be 
tween  the  two  camps,  which  he  accomplished  with 
some  loss.  About  mid-day  on  the  19th  of  Septem 
ber  he  put  himself  at  the  head  of  the  right  wing  of 
his  army,  and  advanced  through  the  woods  towards 
the  left  of  the  American  camp  :  General  Frazer  and 
Colonel  Brehman,  with  the  grenadiers  and  light  in 
fantry,  covered  his  right  flank,  and  the  Indians, 
loyalists,  and  Canadians,  proceeded  in  front.  The 
left  wing  and  artillery,  commanded  by  Generals 
Philips  and  Reidesel,  proceeded  along  the  great  road 
near  the  river. 

The  nature  of  the  ground  prevented  the  contend 
ing  armies  from  observing  the  movements  of  each 
other ;  but  General  Gates,  whose  scouts  were  in  con 
stant  activity,  was  soon  informed  of  the  advance  of 
the  British  army.  He  detached  Colonel  Morgan,  a 
bold  and  active  partisan,  with  his  riflemen,  to  ob 
serve  the  motions  and  impede  the  progress  of  the 
enemy.  Morgan  soon  met  the  advanced  parties  in 
front  of  the  British  right  wing,  and  drove  them 
back.  General  Burgoyne  supported  them  by  a  strong 
detachment;  and,  after  a  severe  conflict,  Mirgan  in 
his  turn  was  compelled  to  give  way.  But  General 


70  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

Gates  reinforced  him,  and  the  engagement  became 
more  general.  The  Americans  attempted  to  turn 
the  right  flank  of  the  British  army,  with  the  view 
of  attacking  it  in  the  rear ;  but,  being  opposed  by 
Frazer  and  Brehman,  they  made  a  rapid  movement, 
and  commenced  a  furious  attack  on  the  left  of  the 
British  right  wing.  The  combatants  were  rein 
forced  ;  and,  between  three  and  four  in  the  afternoon, 
General  Arnold,  with  nine  Continental  regiments 
and  Morgan's  riflemen,  was  closely  engaged  with  the 
whole  right  wing  of  the  British  army.  Both  parties 
fought  with  the  utmost  determined  courage;  and 
the  battle  ended  only  with  the  day.  When  it  be 
came  dark,  the  Americans  withdrew  to  their  camp ; 
and  the  royal  troops  lay  all  night  on  their  arms  on 
the  field  of  battle.  On  hearing  the  firing  at  the 
beginning  of  the  engagement,  General  Philips,  with 
some  artillery,  forced  his  way  through  the  woods 
and  rendered  essential  service.  During  the  battle, 
General  Burgoyne  behaved  with  the  utmost  intre 
pidity  and  exposed  himself  to  every  danger.  In 
the  evening,  it  was  believed  in  the  American  camp 
that  he  was  among  the  wounded ;  for  numbers  of 
Americans  climbed  trees  in  the  rear  of  their  coun 
trymen,  and,  whenever  the  smoke  cleared  away  for 
a  moment,  took  aim  at  the  British  officers.  One  of 
these  marksmen,  seeing  an  aide-de-camp  delivering  a 
message  to  General  Burgoyne,  being  deceived  by  the 
rich  furniture  of  his  horse,  fired  at  the  aide-de-camp 
and  wounded  him,  mistaking  him  for  the  general. 

In  this  battle,  in  which  each  party  had  nearly 
3000  men  actually  engaged,  the  British  lost  upwards 
of  500  in  killed  and  wounded,  and  the  Americans 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  71 

about  400  men.  Night  separated  the  combatants: 
each  side  claimed  the  victory,  and  each  believed 
that  with  a  part  only  of  its  own  force  it  had  beaten 
the  whole  of  the  hostile  army.  But,  although 
neither  arrny  was  defeated,  it  was  evident  \vho  had 
gained  the  advantage  :  General  Burgoyne  had  failed 
in  the  attempt  to  dislodge  the  enemy,  and  his  pro 
gress  was  arrested.  His  communication  with  the 
lakes  was  cut  off,  and  his  resources  were  daily  fail 
ing  ;  while  the  Americans  had  the  same  opportunities 
of  gaining  supplies  as  before,  and  their  strength  was 
still  increasing  by  the  arrival  of  fresh  troops;  In 
such  circumstances,  to  fight  without  a  decisive  vic 
tory  was  to  the  British  nearly  equivalent  to  a  de 
feat  ;  and  to  fight  without  being  beaten  was  to  the 
Americans  productive  of  many  of  the  consequences 
of  victory. 

Accordingly,  the  news  of  the  battle  were  received 
with  joy  and  exultation  throughout  the  United 
States,  and  the  ruin  of  the  invading  army  was  con 
fidently  anticipated.  The  militia  were  encouraged 
to  take  the  field  and  assist  in  consummating  the 
work  so  auspiciously  begun.  At  that  time  the  army 
under  the  command  of  General  Gates  did  not  much 
exceed  7000  men ;  but  it  was  soon  considerably  in 
creased. 


72 


BATTLE-FIELDS     A  N  I> 


BURGOYNE'S  CAMP  ON  THE  HUDSOK. 

BATTLE  OF   STILLWATEE. 

AFTER  the  battle  of  Behrnus's  Heights,  the  safety 
of  the  British  army  lay  only  in  retreat.  It  was  un 
able  to  advance  :  to  fall  back  on  the  lakes  and  return 
to  Canada,  although  difficult,  was  not  then  impossible. 
But  every  hour  lessened  the  probability  of  victory 
and  rendered  retreat  more  impracticable.  General 
Burgoyne,  however,  could  not  at  once  dismiss  all 
the  splendid  visions  of  conquest  and  glory  which 
had  so  long  dazzled  his  imagination  ;  and  he  flat 
tered  himself  with  the  hope  of  a  powerful  co-opera 
tion  on  the  side  of  New  York,  which  had  not  been 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  73 

concerted,  and  was  not  to  happen.  Under  those 
delusions  he  lingered  in  his  strong  camp  from  the 
20th  of  September  till  the  7th  of  October.  During 
that  interval  daily  skirmishes  happened,  which  ac 
customed  the  raw  troops  of  America  to  the  face  of 
an  enemy.  General  Gates,  sensible  that  delay  was 
in  his  favor,  meditated  no  immediate  attack  on  the 
hostile  camp,  but  diligently  took  measures  to  pre 
vent  the  escape  of  the  royal  army  from  the  toils  in 
which  it  was  entangled. 

General  Burgoyne's  difficulties  were  great  and 
daily  increasing.  His  army  was  reduced  to  5000 
regular  troops ;  his  provisions  were  almost  exhausted 
and  his  men  put  on  short  allowance ;  his  horses 
were  perishing  for  want  of  forage;  he  was  so  en 
vironed  by  the  enemy  that  he  could  procure  no 
fresh  supplies,  and  he  had  received  no  recent  intelli 
gence  from  Sir  Henry  Clinton.  He  could  not  long 
remain  in  the  position  which  he  then  occupied,  and 
he  was  not  ignorant  of  the  difficulty  and  danger  of 
a  retreat.  In  these  circumstances  he  resolved  to 
try  the  fortune  of  another  battle,  as  a  victory 
would  enable  him  either  to  advance,  or  to  retreat 
with  safety. 

Accordingly,  on  the  7th  of  October  he  led  out 
1500  men,  well  provided  with  artillery,  and,  accom 
panied  by  Generals  Philips,  Reidesel,  and  Frozen 
marched  against  the  enemy,  leaving  his  camp  on 
the  high  grounds  under  the  care  of  Generals  Hamil 
ton  and  Specht,  and  the  redoubts  and  posts  adja 
cent  to  the  river  under  General  Gell.  General 
Burgoyne's  detachment  had  scarcely  formed  within 
about  half  a  mile  of  the  enemy's  entrenchments. 


74  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

when  its  left,  where  the  grenadiers  were  posted,  was 
furiouly  assailed.  The  Germans,  who  were  on  the 
right  of  the  grenadiers,  were  also  soon  engaged. 
Three  regiments,  under  General  Arnold,  proceeded 
to  attack  the  right  of  the  British  detachment  in 
front,  while  another  division  endeavored  to  turn  its 
flank  and  gain  its  rear.  In  order  to  frustrate  this 
intention,  General  Frazer,  with  the  light  infantry 
and  part  of  the  24th  regiment,  was  ordered  to  cover 
the  right;  but,  while  he  was  making  a  movement 
for  that  purpose,  the  left  was  overpowered  and  gave 
way.  To  save  it  from  destruction,  Frazer  hastened 
to  its  assistance,  but  met  with  an  American  corps  of 
riflemen,  which  briskly  attacked  him ;  and  he  was 
mortally  wounded  in  the  conflict.  The  whole  royal 
detachment  now  gave  way,  and,  with  the  loss  of 
most  of  its  artillery,  retreated  to  the  camp.  The 
Americans  closely  pursued,  and,  under  a  tremendous 
fire  of  grape-shot  and  musketry,  fiercely  assaulted 
the  works  throughout  their  whole  extent.  Arnold, 
who  conducted  the  assault,  urged  on  his  men,  but 
was  ultimately  repulsed  by  the  British  under  the 
immediate  orders  of  General  Burgoyne,  after  having 
had  his  horse  shot  under  him  and  being  wounded  in 
the  same  leg  which  had  been  injured  at  Quebec. 
The  left  of  the  American  detachment,  under  Colonel 
Brooks,  was  more  successful.  It  turned  the  right 
of  the  royal  encampment,  stormed  the  works  of  the 
German  reserve,  under  Colonel  Brehman,  who  was 
killed,  and  his  troops  retreated,  with  the  loss  of  all 
their  artillery  and  camp-equipage ;  while  Brooks 
maintained  the  ground  which  he  had  gained. 

Darkness,  as  on  the  19th  of  September,  put  an 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  75 

end  to  the  bloody  conflict ;  and  the  Americans  lay 
all  night  on  their  arms,  about  half  a  mile  from  the 
lines,  with  the  intention  of  renewing  the  assault 
in  the  morning.  The  advantage  which  they  had 
gained  was  great.  Without  any  considerable  loss, 
they  had  killed  many  of  the  enemy,  made  upwards 
of  200  prisoners,  among  whom  were  several  officers 
of  distinction,  taken  nine  pieces  of  brass  artillery, 
all  the  baggage  and  camp-equipage  of  a  German 
brigade,  obtained  a  large  supply  of  ammunition,  of 
which  they  stood  much  in  need,  and  had  entered 
the  royal  lines  and  gained  a  position  which  threat 
ened  their  rear.  About  midnight,  General  Lincoln 
with  his  division  marched  from  the  American  camp 
to  relieve  the  troops  who  had  been  engaged,  and  to 
occupy  the  ground  which  they  had  won. 

This  was  Burgoyne's  last  great  battle.  On  the 
16th  of  October  he  capitulated,  and  his  whole  army 
became  prisoners. 


76  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


ATTACK   ON   FORTS   CLINTON  AND 
MONTGOMERY. 

THE  attack  on  Forts  Clinton  and  Montgomery, 
which  had  been  delayed  till  the  arrival  of  reinforce 
ments  from  Europe,  had  been  successfully  made 
The  voyage  of  these  reinforcements  was  tedious; 
but  they  arrived  at  New  York  in  the  end  of  Sep 
tember,  and  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  without  delay,  em 
barked  3000  men  in  vessels  of  different  descriptions, 
and,  convoyed  by  some  ships-of-war  under  Commo 
dore  Hotham,  sailed  up  the  Hudson. 

Forts  Clinton  and  Montgomery,  against  which 
the  expedition  was  directed,  were  situated  on  high 
ground  of  difficult  access,  on  the  western  bank  of 
the  river,  about  fifty  miles  above  New  York.  They 
were  separated  by  a  rivulet,  which,  flowing  from  the 
hills,  empties  itself  into  the  Hudson.  Under  cover 
of  the  guns,  a  boom  was  stretched  across  the  river 
from  bank  to  bank,  and  strengthened  by  an  im 
mense  iron  chain  in  front,  as  well  as  supported  by 
chevaux-de-frise  sunk  behind  it.  Above  this  strong 
barrier  a  frigate  and  galleys  were  moored,  so  as  to 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  77 

be  able  to  direct  a  heavy  fire  against  any  vessels 
that  might  attempt  to  force  a  passage.  This  seemed 
to  present  an  insuperable  obstacle  in  the  way  of  the 
British  shipping  towards  Albany.  Fort  Indepen 
dence  stood  four  or  five  miles  below,  on  a  high  point 
of  land,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  Fort 
Constitution  was  six  miles  above  the  boom,  on  an 
island  near  the  eastern  bank.  Peekskill,  the  head- 


DEFENCE     OF     FORT     MONTGOMERY. 


quarters  of  the  officer  who  commanded  on  the  Hud 
son  from  Kings  bridge  to  Albany,  was  just  below 
Fort  Independence,  on  the  same  side.  General 
Putnam  then  held  that  command,  and  had  about 
2000  men  under  him. 

On  the  5th  of  October,  Sir  Henry  Clinton  landed 
at  Verplank's  Point,  a  little  below  Peekskill,  on  the 
same  side  of  the  river.  General  Putnam,  appre 
hending  that  the  enemy  intended  to  attack  Fort 


78  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

Independence  and  to  march  through  the  highlands 
on  the  east  of  the  river  towards  Albany,  retired  to 
the  heights  in  his  rear;  and,  entertaining  no  sus 
picion  of  the  real  point  of  attack,  neglected  to 
strengthen  the  garrisons  of  the  forts  on  the  western 
bank. 

The  British  fleet  moved  higher  up  the  river,  in 
order  to  conceal  what  was  passing  at  the  place 
where  the  troops  had  landed ;  and,  on  the  evening 
of  the  day  on  which  he  had  arrived  at  Verplank's 
Point,  Sir  Henry  Clinton  embarked  upwards  of 
2000  of  his  men,  leaving  the  rest  to  guard  that  post. 
Early  next  morning  he  landed  at  Stony  Point,  on 
the  west  side  of  the  river,  and  immediately  began 
his  march  over  the  mountains  towards  the  forts. 
The  roads  were  difficult  and  the  enterprise  perilous; 
for  a  small  body  of  men,  properly  posted,  might  not 
only  have  arrested  his  progress,  but  repulsed  him 
with  much  loss.  He,  however,  reached  the  vicinity 
of  the  forts  before  he  was  discovered ;  there  he  fell 
in  with  a  patrol,  who  immediately  retreated  and 
gave  warning  of  the  approaching  danger. 

Between  four  and  five  on  the  afternoon  of  the  6th 
of  October,  the  British  appeared  before  the  forts, 
which  they  summoned  to  surrender,  and,  on  re 
ceiving  a  refusal,  instantly  advanced  under  a  heavy 
fire  to  the  assault.  Both  forts,  garrisoned  by  about 
600  men,  were  attacked  at  the  same  time :  Fort 
Montgomery  by  Colonel  Campbell  at  the  head  of 
900  men;  and  Fort  Clinton,  the  stronger  of  the  two 
posts,  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton  with  1200.  Fort  Mont 
gomery  was  soon  taken ;  but  Colonel  Campbell  fell 
in  the  attack.  Most  of  the  garrison,  favored  by 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  (V 

the  darkness  and  by  their  knowledge  of  the  passes^ 
made  their  escape.  At  Fort  Clinton  the  resistance 
was  more  obstinate ;  but  that  fort  also  was  stormed, 
and  a  considerable  number  of  the  garrison  killed  or 
made  prisoners. 

General  Putnam  had  no  suspicion  of  the  real 
point  of  attack  till  he  heard  the  firing,  when  he 
despatched  500  men  to  the  assistance  of  the  garri 
sons  ;  but  the  forts  were  taken  before  they  arrived, 


DBFEXCE    OF    TOUT     CLINTON, 


and  consequently  they  returned  to  camp.  In  storm 
ing  the  forts,  the  British  had  about  150  men  killed 
or  wounded.  Besides  Colonel  Campbell,  Captain 
Stewart,  Major  Sill,  and  Count  Grabousky,  a  Polish 
nobleman  who  served  as  a  volunteer  in  the  royal 
arrny,  were  among  the  slain.  The  Americans  lost 
300  men,  in  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners. 

The  American  vessels-of-war  in  the  river,  being 


80  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

unable  to  escape,  were  burnt  by  their  crews,  in  order 
to  prevent  them  from  falling  into  the  hands  of  the 
British,  who  removed  the  boom  and  chain,  and 
opened  the  navigation  of  the  river.  Fort  Inde 
pendence  was  evacuated ;  and  Fort  Constitution, 
where  the  navigation  was  obstructed  by  a  boom  and 
chain,  was  also  abandoned,  without  any  attempt  to 
defend  it.  The  British  proceeded  up  the  river,  de 
stroying  every  thing  in  their  power.  They  advanced 
to  Esopus,  which  they  laid  in  ashes,  but  proceeded 
no  farther.  In  this  expedition  they  took  or  destroyed 
a  large  quantity  of  American  stores. 

General  Putnam  retreated  up  the  river ;  informed 
General  Gates  that  he  was  unable  to  arrest  the  pro 
gress  of  the  enemy,  and  advised  him  to  prepare  for 
the  worst.  But,  although  his  rear  was  threatened, 
General  Gates  was  eager  in  improving  the  advan 
tages  he  had  gained  over  the  British  army,  which 
was  now  reduced  to  the  most  distressing  circum 
stances,  these  events  having  transpired  just  before 
the  surrender  of  Burgoyne. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  31 


GENERAL     LEE. 


BATTLE  OF   MONMOUTH. 

FEARFUL  for  the  safety  of  their  army,  the  British 
ministers  had  sent  orders  to  Howe  to  evacuate  the 
city  of  Philadelphia  and  the  river  Delaware  with 
out  delay,  lest  the  French  fleet,  which  it  was  pre 
sumed  would  sail  for  America  in  the  spring,  might 
entrap  him,  and  cause  the  loss  of  both  fleet  and 
army. 

Accordingly,  the  royal  army  crossed  the  Delaware 
into  New  Jersey,  on  the  18th  of  June.  Washington 
had  previously  detached  Maxwell's  brigade  to  aid 
the  Jersey  militia  in  checking  their  march,  whilst 
he  should  fall  on  their  rear  himself  with  the  main 
body.  The  Americans  crossed  the  Delaware  in 
pursuit  of  the  British,  while  six  hundred  men  were 


82 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


detached  under  Morgan,  to  reinforce  Maxwell.  The 
British  inarched  to  Allentown,  and  there  chose  the 
road  to  Sandy  Hook,  to  avoid  crossing  the  Raritan, 
which  they  must  have  done  if  they  had  marched 
direct  to  Amboy.  They  encamped,  on  the  27th  of 
June,  near  Freehold  Court-House,  in  Monmouth 
county.  Washington  sent  General  Wayne,  with 
one  thousand  men,  to  reinforce  the  troops  already 
on  their  lines.  La  Fayette  was  sent  to  command 
this  division,  which  amounted  to  four  thousand  men, 


COUNCIL    OF     OFFICERS     BE TO RE    THE    B ATT LI    OF     MONMOOTH. 

and  Lee  soon  after  joined  them,  with  two  addi 
tional  brigades,  and  took  charge  of  the  whole.  Mor 
gan  hovered  on  the  right  flank  of  the  British,  with 
his  corps,  and  Dickinson  was  on  the  left,  with  eight 
hundred  Jersey  militia.  Washington  was  three 
miles  in  the  rear,  with  the  main  body.  He  deter 
mined  to  make  an  attack  upon  the  British  before 


NATAL     EXPLOITS.  83 

they  should  reach  the  strong  grounds  about  Middle- 
town.  Lee  was  ordered  to  maintain  his  dispositions 
for  an  attack,  and  to  keep  his  troops  constantly  on 
their  arms,  so  as  to  take  advantage  of  the  first 
movement  of  the  enemy.  Knyphausen  led  the  van, 
with  the  baggage,  and  the  best  troops  were  placed 
in  the  rear,  under  Cornwallis. 

At  break  of  day,  on  the  28th  of  June,  the  royal 
army  began  their  march ;  but  the  rear  waited  until 
eight  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Lee  followed  them 
into  the  plains ;  Clinton  turned,  with  his  whole  rear- 
division,  to  attack  the  Americans,  and  Lee  began 
the  engagement.  Owing  to  some  misunderstanding, 
part  of  the  American  forces  began  to  retreat,  and 
the  rest  soon  followed  in  great  disorder.  Washing 
ton  now  came  up  with  the  main  body,  and,  to  his 
great  astonishment  and  mortification,  met  the  ad 
vanced  division  in  full  retreat,  Lee  intending  to  re 
new  the  battle  on  higher  ground.  Washington  rode 
forward  and  addressed  General  Lee  in  warm  terms 
of  disapprobation.  Yet  his  indignation  could  not  get 
the  better  of  his  self-command  ;  and  he  immediately 
set  himself  to  repair  the  error  which  had  been  com 
mitted.  He  ordered  Lee  to  arrest  the  progress  of 
the  flying  soldiers,  while  he  brought  up  the  main 
body  to  their  assistance.  Lee  .executed  his  orders 
with  his  characteristic  courage  and  skill.  A  sharp 
conflict  ensued :  the  Americans  were  compelled  to 
retreat,  and  wrere  this  time  brought  off  by  Lee  in 
good  order.  The  British  advanced,  and  attacked 
the  second  line  of  the  Americans,  which  was  strongly 
posted,  and  made  such  a  vigorous  resistance  that 
the  enemy  were  compelled  to  give  way;  and  at 


84  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

night  Clinton  withdrew  his  troops  to  a  good  position, 
where  he  remained  till  midnight,  when  he  resumed 
his  march,  carrying  most  of  his  wounded  along 
with  him. 

The  Americans  lost  in  this  battle  69  killed  and 
140  wounded;  while  the  British,  after  burying  some 
of  their  dead  in  the  night,  left  on  the  field  of  battle 
247  killed,  who  were  buried  by  the  Americans. 
They  left  44  wounded,  and  took  many  others  with 
them.  Clinton  continued  his  retreat  unmolested, 
owing  to  the  bad  state  of  the  roads;  but,  on  his 
march  through  Jersey,  a  large  number  of  his  men, 
who  had  married  in  Philadelphia,  deserted,  and  re 
turned  to  that  city.  The  British  lost  Lieutenant-Colo 
nel  Monckton,  and  the  Americans  Lieutenant-Colo 
nel  Bonner  and  Major  Dickenson.  all  able  officers. 
Washington  moved  towards  the  Hudson,  and 
D'Estaing  sailed  up  the  Delaware,  with  twelve  ships- 
of-the-line  and  three  frigates,  not  ten  days  after 
Howe  had  quitted  it ;  when,  finding  his  enemy  gone, 
he  sailed  for  New  York,  and  blockaded  the  British 
fleet  in  the  harbor. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  85 


COLONEL  J5.  BUTLER. 


MASSACRE  OF  WYOMING. 

In  the  spring  of  1778,  the  settlers,  fearing  an 
attack,  sent  an  express  to  the  Board  of  War,  to  re 
present  the  danger  in  which  the  settlement  at 
Wyoming  was  of  being  destroyed  by  the  Indians 
and  tories,  and  to  request  that  the  men  who  had 
gone  from  the  valley  and  joined  the  Continental 
army  might  be  ordered  to  return  and  assist  in  the 
defence  of  their  homes.  Their  request  was  granted  ; 
and  a  company,  commanded  by  Captain  Spalding, 
composed  of  what  remained  of  the  two  companies 
before  mentioned  as  having  been  enlisted  at  Wyo 
ming,  set  out  for  the  valley,  and  were  within  two  days' 
march  of  it  on  the  day  of  the  fatal  battle.  About 
the  1st  of  June,  the  same  year,  a  scouting-party 
from  Captain  Hewitt's  company  discovered  a  num 
ber  of  canoes,  with  Indians,  on  the  river  at  some 


86  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

distance  above  the  settlement ;  and  a  few  days  after, 
a  party  of  Indians  attacked,  and  killed  or  made  pri 
soners,  nine  or  ten  men,  while  at  work  on  the  bank 
of  the  river,  about  ten  miles  above  the  fort.  Many 
circumstances  indicated  the  approach  of  a  large  body 
of  the  enemy.  Such  was  the  situation  of  the  settle 
ment  when  Colonel  Butler  arrived.  This  was  the 
latter  part  of  June,  and  but  a  few  days  before  the 
battle.  On  the  1st  of  July,  the  militia  under  the 
command  of  Colonel  Denison,  with  all  others  who 
were  capable  and  willing  to  bear  arms,  assembled  at 
the  fort  in  Wilkesbarre,  being  the  principal  fort. 
They  made  an  excursion  against  the  enemy,  killed 
two  Indians,  and  found  the  bodies  of  the  men  who 
had  been  murdered  by  them.  When  they  returned, 
each  man  was  obliged  to  go  to  his  own  house  and 
furnish  himself  with  provisions,  as  there  were  none 
collected  at  the  fort.  In  consequence  of  this  disper 
sion,  they  were  not  able  to  assemble  again  until  the 
3d  of  July,  when  their  whole  strength  amounted  to 
about  350  men. 

It  probably  would  have  been  greater,  but  many 
of  the  settlers  chose  rather  to  remain  in  the  other 
forts,  for  the  purpose  of  defending  their  families  and 
property,  in  which  they  naturally  felt  a  greater  in 
terest  than  in  the  general  welfare.  Of  the  whole 
force,  consisting  of  the  militia,  Captain  Hewitt's 
company  of  rangers,  and  a  few  volunteers,  including 
several  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  regular  army  who 
happened  to  be  in  the  valley,  Colonel  Butler  was  re 
quested  to  take  the  command.  The  whole,  as  before 
stated,  amounted  to  about  350  men,  indifferently 
furnished  with  arms  and  ammunition. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


87 


As  the  enemy  had  entered  the  valley  at  the  upper 
end,  and  had  advanced  directly  towards  the  fort,  in 
which  the  settlers  were  assembled,  the  object  of  the 
savages  was  supposed  to  be  to  attack  them  in  the 
fort.  The  enemy  had  taken  Fort  Wintermote  and 
one  other  small  fort  and  burned  them,  and  were 
burning  and  laying  waste  the  whole  country  in  their 
progress.  Colonel  Butler  held  a  consultation  with 


MASSACRE    AT     WYOMING. 


the  officers ;  and  it  was  decided  to  be  best  to  go  out 
and  intercept  the  progress  of  the  enemy,  if  possible, 
and  put  an  end  to  the  scene  of  devastation  which 
they  witnessed.  Being  perfectly  acquainted  with 
the  country,  they  marched  out  some  distance  from 
the  fort,  and  formed  on  the  bank  of  a  creek,  in  a 
very  advantageous  situation.  Here  they  lay  con 
cealed,  expecting  that. the  enemy  would  advance  to 


88  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

attack  the  fort,  and  knowing  that  if  they  did  so  they 
would  pass  the  place  where  the  Americans  were  in 
ambush.  In  this  situation  they  remained  near  half 
the  day;  but,  no  enemy  appearing,  a  council  was 
called,  in  which  there  was  a  difference  of  opinion  as 
to  the  expediency  of  advancing  and  attacking  the 
enemy,  or  of  returning  to  the  fort,  there  to  de 
fend  themselves  until  the  arrival  of  Captain  Spald- 
ing's  company,  which  was  daily  expected.  On  the 
one  hand,  the  hope  of  succor  and  their  uncertainty 
as  to  the  strength  of  the  enemy  were  urged  as 
reasons  for  returning;  and  on  the  other,  the  de 
struction  of  the  whole  country,  which  would  in 
evitably  follow  such  a  step,  together  with  the  insuffi 
ciency  of  the  fort  and  the  want  of  provisions  to 
enable  them  to  stand  a  siege,  were  powerful  reasons 
in  favor  of  risking  an  immediate  battle.  Captain 
Lazarus  Stewart,  a  brave  man,  famous  in  the  country 
for  his  exploits  among  the  Indians,  and  whose  opi 
nion  had  much  weight,,  urged  an  immediate  attack ; 
declaring  that  if  they  did  not  march  forward  that 
day  and  attack  the  enemy  he  would  withdraw  with 
his  whole  company.  This  left  them  no  alternative, 
and  they  advanced  accordingly. 

They  had  not  gone  above  a  mile  before  the  ad 
vance-guard  fired  upon  some  Indians  who  were  in 
the  act  of  plundering  and  burning  a  house.  These 
fled  to  their  camp  and  gave  the  alarm  that  the 
Americans  were  approaching.  Fort  Wintermote 
was  at  this  time  the  head-quarters  of  the  enemy. 
Their  whole  force,  consisting  of  Indians,  British,  and 
tories,  was,  as  near  as  could  afterwards  be  ascer 
tained,  about  1000  men,  and  was  commanded  by 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  89 

Colonel  John  Butler,  an  officer  of  the  British,  army, 
and  an  Indian  chief  called  Brandt.  They  were  ap 
parently  unapprised  of  the  movements  of  the  Ameri 
cans  until  the  return  to  the  main  body  of  those 
Indians  who  had  been  fired  on.  They  immediately 
extended  themselves  in  a  line  from  the  fort  across 
a  plain  covered  with  pine-trees  and  underbrush. 
When  formed,  the  right  of  the  enemy  rested  on  a 
swamp,  and  their  left  on  Fort  Wintermote.  The 
Americans  marched  to  the  attack  also  in  a  line, 
Colonel  Zebulon  Butler  leading  on  the  right  wing, 
opposed  by  Colonel  John  Butler,  at  the  head  of  the 
British  troops,  painted  to  resemble  Indians ;  Colonel 
Denison  was  on  the  left,  and  opposed  by  Brandt  and 
the  Indians.  In  this  position  the  parties  engaged, 
and  each  supported  its  ground  for  some  time  with 
much  firmness.  At  length  the  Americans  on  the 
right  hand  had  the  advantage  of  the  fight,  having 
forced  the  enemy's  left  wing  to  retire  some  distance. 
But  on  the  left  the  battle  soon  wore  a  different  as 
pect.  The  Indians,  having  penetrated  the  swamp, 
were  discovered  attempting  to  get  into  their  rear. 
Colonel  Denison  immediately  gave  orders  for  the  left 
to  fall  back  and  meet  them  as  they  came  out  of  the 
swamp.  This  order  was  misunderstood,  and  some 
of  the  men  or  officers  cried  out,  "  The  colonel  orders 
a  retreat!"  The  left  immediately  gave  wray;  and, 
before  they  could  be  undeceived  as  to  the  object  of 
the  order,  the  line  broke,  and  the  Indians  rushed  on 
with  hideous  yells.  Colonel  Zebulon  Butler,  who 
had  continued  on  horseback  throughout  the  day, 
finding  that  the  right  wing  was  doing  well,  rode  to 
wards  the  left.  When  he  got  a  little  more  than 


90  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

hall -way  down  the  line  he  discovered  that  hi?  meu 
were  retreating,  and  that  he  was  between  the  two 
fires,  and  near  the  advancing  line  of  the  enemy. 
The  right  had  no  notice  of  the  retreat  until  the 
firing  on  the  left  had  ceased  and  the  yelling  of  the 
savages  indicated  their  success.  This  wing,  no 
longer  able  to  maintain  its  ground,  was  forced  to 
retreat,  and  the  route  soon  became  general.  The 
officers  were  principally  killed  in  their  ineffectual 
attempts  to  rally  the  men.  The  defeat  was  total,  and 
the  loss  in  killed  was  variously  estimated  at  from 
two  to  three  hundred  of  the  settlers.  Of  Captain 
Hewitt's  company  but  fifteen  escaped.  The  loss  of 
the  enemy  was  also  considerable.  Colonels  Butler 
and  Denison,  although  much  exposed  to  the  enemy's 
fire,  escaped.  Colonel  Butler  collected  four  or  five 
men  together  in  their  flight,  directed  them  to  retain 
their  arms,  and  when  any  of  the  Indians,  who  were 
scattered  over  the  plain  hunting  for  their  victims, 
approached  the  little  party,  they  fired  upon  them, 
and  by  this  means  they  secured  their  retreat  to 
Forty  Fort.  Many  of  the  settlers,  at  the  commence 
ment  of  their  flight,  had  thrown  away  their  arms, 
that  they  might  be  better  able  to  escape.  But  this 
was  of  no  avail,  for  the  Indians  overtook  and  killed 
them  with  their  tomahawks.  The  few  that  escaped 
assembled  at  Forty  Fort ;  but  the  inhabitants  were 
so  much  disheartened  by  their  defeat  that  they  were 
ready  to  submit  upon  any  terms  that  might  be 
offered.  The  enemy  refused  to  treat  with  Colonel 
Butler,  or  to  give  quarter  to  any  Continental  officer 
or  soldier.  Indeed,  it  had  been  determined,  if 
they  were  taken,  to  deliver  them  into  the  hands  of 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  91 

the  Indians.  Colonel  Butler  then  left  the  valley 
and  proceeded  to  a  place  on  the  Lehigh,  called 
Gnadenhutten.  On  the  4th  of  July,  Colonel  Deni- 
8on  and  Colonel  John  Butler  entered  into  articles  of 
capitulation  for  the  surrender  of  the  settlement.  By 
these  articles  it  was  stipulated,  among  other  things, 
that  "the  lives  of  the  inhabitants  should  be  pre 
served,"  and  that  they  should  "  occupy  their  farms 
peaceably;"  that  "the  Continental  stores  should  be 
given  up ;"  and  that  "  the  private  property  of  the  in 
habitants  should  be  preserved  entire  and  unhurt." 
The  enemy  then  marched  into  the  fort ;  but  the  con 
ditions  of  the  capitulation  were  entirely  disregarded 
on  their  part.  The  Indians  plundered  the  inhabitants 
indiscriminately,  and  stripped  them  even  of  such  of 
their  wearing-apparel  as  they  chose  to  take.  Com 
plaint  was  made  to  Colonel  John  Butler,  who  turned 
his  back  upon  them,  saying  he  could  not  control  the 
Indians,  and  walked  out  of  the, fort.  The  people, 
finding  that  they  were  left  to  the  mercy  of  the  tories 
and  savages,  fled  from  the  valley,  and  made  the  best 
of  their  way,  about  fifty  miles,  through  the  wilder 
ness,  to  the  nearest  settlement  of  their  friends, 
leaving  their  property  a  prey  to  the  enemy.  All 
the  houses  on  the  northwest  side  of  the  Sus^uehanna 
were  plundered  and  burned.  They  afterwards  plun 
dered  and  burned  the  town  of  Wilkesbarre.  Having 
accomplished  their  hellish  purpose  of  destruction  and 
desolation,  the  main  body  of  the  enemy  returned  to 
Niagara,  taking  with  them  all  the  horses,  cattle,  and 
other  property  which  they  did  not  think  proper  to 
destroy. 


92 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


DEATH    OF    PULASKI. 


SIEGE   OF   SAVANNAH. 

THE  summer  of  1779  was  occupied  by  the 
British  in  strengthening  themselves  in  Georgia  and 
endeavoring  to  extend  their  conquests  to  the  Caro- 
linas.  General  Lincoln  attacked  them  unsuccessfully 
at  Stono  Ferry,  and  then  retired  to  Sheldon,  near 
Beaufort,  while  Prevost  retreated  to  Savannah,  (June, 
1779.) 

The  military  aspect  of  things  remained  unal 
tered  here  until  September,  when  Count  D'Estaing, 
who  had  been  prevailed  on  by  General  Lincoln,  and 
President  Lowndes,  of  South  Carolina,  to  aid  in  the 
Southern  campaign,  appeared  off  the  coast  and 
roused  the  whole  country  to  action. 

After  having  victualled  and  repaired  his  fleet  at 
Boston,  he  had  sailed  to  the  West  Indies,  where  he 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  93 

had  taken  St.  Vincent  and  Grenada.  About  the 
beginning  of  the  year  he  had  retired  to  Cape  Fran- 
c,ais,  and  he  afterwards  sailed  for  the  American  con 
tinent.  His  fleet  consisted  of  twenty  sail-of-the- 
line,  two  fifty-gun  ships,  and  eleven  frigates.  As 
soon  as  his  arrival  was  known,  Lincoln  marched  for 
Savannah.  The  British,  to  prepare  for  their  defence, 
had  nearly  their  whole  army  employed,  day  and 
night,  in  strengthening  and  extending  their  lines; 
while  the  American  militia,  sanguine  in  the  hope 
of  expelling  the  enemy  from  their  Southern  pos 
sessions,  joined  the  army  with  unusual  alacrity. 
D'Estaing  had  demanded  a  surrender,  and  allowed  a 
suspension  of  hostilities  for  twenty-four  hours,  during 
which  interval  Colonel  Mail-land,  with  about  800 
men,  from  Beaufort,  succeeded  in  joining  the  gar 
rison.  Prevost  at  length  answered  that  he  would 
defend  the  place  to  the  last  extremity.  On  the 
4th  of  October,  the  batteries  of  the  besiegers  were 
opened,  with  nine  mortars  and  fifty-two  cannon. 
Finding  that  a  long  time  would  be  required  to  take 
the  place  by  regular  approaches,  it  was  determined 
to  assault  the  town.  In  pursuance  of  this  design, 
on  the  9th  of  October,  while  two  feints  were  made 
with  the  militia,  a  real  attack  was  made  on  Spring 
Hill  battery,  just  as  daylight  appeared,  with  two 
columns,  consisting  of  3500  French  troops,  600  Con 
tinentals,  and  350  of  the  inhabitants  of  Charleston. 
The  allies  marched  boldly  to  the  assault;  but  a 
very  heavy  and  well-directed  fire  from  the  battery 
threw  their  front  columns  into  confusion.  They 
still  pressed  forward  to  a  redoubt,  where  the  conflict 
became  fierce  and  desperate.  A  French  and  an 


94  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

American  standard  were  for  a  time  on  the  parapet ; 
but  the  assailants,  after  sustaining  the  enemy's  fire 
fifty-five  minutes,  were  ordered  to  retreat.  Of  the 
French  537,  and  of  the  Continentals  and  militia  241, 
were  killed  or  wounded.  Among  those  who  fell, 
none  was  more  deeply  lamented  than  the  gallant 
Count  Pulaski,  a  Polish  officer  in  the  American 
service.  Immediately  after  this  unsuccessful  assault 
the  militia  almost  universally  went  to  their  homes, 
and  Count  D'Estaing,  re-embarking  his  troops  and 
artillery,  left  the  continent. 

While  the  siege  of  Savannah  was  pending,  a 
remarkable  enterprise  was  effected  by  Colonel  John 
White,  of  Georgia.  Previous  to  D'Estaing's  arrival, 
about  100  tory  regulars  had  taken  post  near  the 
Ogeechee  River,  twenty-five  miles  from  Savannah. 
There  were  at  the  same  place  five  British  vessels, 
four  of  which  were  manned  with  forty  sailors  and 
armed  with  eighteen  guns.  Colonel  White,  with  six 
volunteers,  captured  all  this  force.  On  the  30th  of 
September,  at  eleven  o'clock  at  night,  he  kindled  a 
number  of  fires  in  different  places,  adopted  the 
parade  of  a  large  encampment,  practised  a  variety 
of  other  stratagems,  and  finally  concluded  his  demon 
strations  by  summoning  the  captain  of  the  tories  to 
surrender.  The  latter  was  so  fully  impressed  with 
the  opinion  that  nothing  but  instant  compliance  could 
save  his  men  from  being  cut  to  pieces  by  a  superior 
force  that  he  made  no  defence.  White  managed 
his  bold  enterprise  with  such  address  that  all  the 
prisoners,  amounting  to  141,  were  secured,  and 
conducted  by  their  captors  to  the  town  of  Sunbury, 
twenty-five  miles  distant. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  95 


GENERAL    WAYNB. 


STORMING  OF   STONY  POINT. 

MEANTIME,  Washington  was  posted  at  West  Point ; 
and  while  the  British  were  sending  parties  of  plun 
derers  into  Connecticut  and  Virginia,  under  General 
Matthews  and  the  infamous  Governor  Tryon,  Wayne 
performed  one  of  his  most  brilliant  feats. 

Stony  Point  and  Fort  La  Fayette,  on  opposite 
sides  of  the  Hudson,  some  miles  below  the  Ameri 
can  camp,  afforded  two  posts  which  might  prac 
ticably  be  attacked.  They  had  been  taken  from 
the  Americans  in  the  spring,  when  the  works  were 
incomplete,  and  Clinton  had  garrisoned  them  and 
put  the  fortifications  in  the  best  state  of  repair. 
After  reconnoitring  the  works  in  person,  Washing 
ton  determined  to  surprise  them.  The  attempt  was 
hazardous  j  for  Stony  Point  is  a  commanding  hill, 


96  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

projecting  far  into  the  Hudson,  which  washes  three 
fourths  of  its  base.  The  remaining  fourth  is  in  a 
great  measure  covered  by  a  deep  marsh,  commenc 
ing  near  the  river,  on  the  upper  side,  and  continuing 
till  it  joins  it  below  the  fort.  The  marsh  was  pas 
sable  only  at  one  place ;  but  at  its  junction  with  the 
river  there  is  a  sandy  beach,  which  may  be  crossed 
at  ebb-tide.  The  fort  stood  on  the  summit  of  the 
hill,  and  was  well  provided  with  artillery.  Several 
breastworks  and  strong  batteries  were  raised  in  front 
of  the  principal  fortification,  and  there  were  two 
rows  of  abattis  half-way  down  the  hill.  The  fort 
was  garrisoned  by  about  600  men,  under  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Johnson ;  and  several  ships-of-war  were 
stationed  in  the  river,  so  as  to  command  the  foot  of 
the  hill. 

On  the  15th  of  July,  1779,  General  Wayne 
marched  from  Sandy  Beach,  fourteen  miles  distant 
from  Stony  Point,  at  the  head  of  the  detachment  of 
troops,  which  were  chiefly  New  Englanders.  The 
road  was  mountainous,  rugged,  and  difficult;  the 
heat  was  intense,  and  it  was  eight  in  the  evening 
before  the  van  of  the  party  reached  Spring  Heels, 
a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  fort,  where  the  detach 
ment  halted  and  formed,  while  General  Wayne  and 
some  of  his  officers  proceeded  to  take  a  view  of  the 
works.  At  half-past  eleven,  the  party,  in  two  co 
lumns,  advanced  towards  the  garrison.  One  hundred 
and  fifty  volunteers,  under  Colonel  Fleury,  formed 
the  van  of  the  right,  and  100  volunteers,  under 
Major  Stewart,  composed  the  van  of  the  left.  Both 
advanced  with  unloaded  muskets  and  fixed  bayonets, 
and  each  was  preceded  by  a  forlorn  hope  of  20  men, 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


97 


led  by  Lieutenants  Gibbons  and  Knox,  to  remove 
the  obstructions  and  abattis,  and  to  open  a  passage 
for  the  columns,  which  followed  close  in  the  rear. 
Having  taken  care  to  secure  every  person  on  the 
route  who  could  give  information  of  their  approach, 
the  columns  reached  the  marsh  undiscovered.  In 
crossing  it,  unexpected  difficulties  occurred,  and  it 
was  twenty  minutes  past  twelve  when  the  attack 


WEST     POINT. 


Commenced.  A  tremendous  discharge  of  musketry 
and  grape-shot  opened  on  the  assailants ;  but  both 
columns  rushed  forward  with  fixed  bayonets,  and 
soon  gained  possession  of  the  fort. 

This  was  a  brilliant  exploit,  and  the  assailants 
gained  more  noble  and  permanent  honors  by  their 
humanity  than  by  their  bravery;  for,  although  the 


98  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

place  was  taken  by  storm,  and  the  American  troops 
were  greatly  exasperated  by  the  merciless  ravages 
and  devastations  committed  by  the  enemy  on  the 
coast  of  Connecticut,  yet  not  one  individual  "f  the 
garrison  suffered  after  resistance  ceased.  The  garri 
son  lost  20  men  killed  in  the  conflict,  and  74  wound 
ed,  including  six  officers.  The  Americans  had  63 
killed,  two  of  whom  were  officers;  but  the  wounded 
did  not  exceed  40.  Seventeen  out  of  20  of  Lieu 
tenant  Gibbon's  forlorn  hope  were  either  killed  or 
wounded.  The  prisoners  amounted  to  543,  includ 
ing  officers;  and  the  military  stores,  ordnance,  and 
standards,  which  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  victors, 
were  considerable. 

Owing  to  the  defenceless  state  of  the  works  on 
the  river-side,  which  would  now  be  exposed  to 
attacks  from  the  British  shipping  in  the  river,  it 
was  estimated  that  it  would  require  a  garrison  of 
1500  men  to  defend  the  place ;  and  General  Wash 
ington  could  not  spare  that  number  from  his  little 
army,  which  amounted  in  all  to  scarcely  9000  men. 
He  therefore  deemed  it  expedient  to  evacuate  the 
place,  after  having,  to  a  certain  extent,  demolished 
the  works. 

Clinton  soon  after  again  took  possession  of  Stony 
Point,  ordered  the  fortifications  to  be  repaired,  and 
stationed  a  strong  garrison  in  the  fort ;  but,  failing 
in  his  attempts  to  draw  Washington  from  his  strong 
position  in  the  Highlands,  he  again  sailed  down  the 
river  to  New  York. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  99 


PAUL    JONES. 


CAPTURE   OF   THE   SERAPIS. 

THE  French  ministry,  to  testify  their  good-will  to 
the  United  States,  had  promised  to  furnish  Paul 
Jones  with  a  ship,  in  which,  however,  he  was  to 
display  the  American  flag ;  but,  after  various  written 
memorials,  no  progress  seemed  to  have  been  made 
towards  the  fulfilment  of  this  engagement.  At 
length  he  determined  to  apply  in  person,  and,  hav 
ing  gone  to  Paris,  he  soon  obtained  the  command  of 
the  Due  de  Duras,  of  forty  guns.  The  name,  how 
ever,  he  changed  to  Le  Bon-Homme  Richard,  in  com 
pliment  to  the  wise  saying  of  Poor  Richard  : — "  If 
you  would  have  your  business  done,  come  yourself; 
if  not,  send."  In  this  vessel,  badly  manned  and  not 
much  better  furnished,  Paul  Jones  sailed  as  commo 
dore  of  a  little  squadron,  consisting,  besides  his  own 
ship,  of  the  Alliance,  of  thirty-six  guns,  the  Pallas,  of 
thirty- two,  the  Serf,  of  eighteen,  the  Vengeance,  of 
twelve,  and  two  privateers,  which  requested  leave 
to  share  the  commodore's  fortunes.  After  taking 
several  prizes,  the  Serf,  the  privateers,  and  at  length 


100  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

the  Alliance,  deserted  the  squadron.  The  commo 
dore's  good  fortune,  however,  did  not  desert  him. 
On  the  15th  of  September,  he  was,  with  his  own 
ship,  the  Pallas,  the  Vengeance,  and  several  prizes, 
at  the  entrance  into  the  Firth  of  Forth,  where  they 
made  every  necessary  disposition  to  seize  the  guard- 
ship  and  two  cutters  that  rode  at  anchor  in  the 
roads,  and  to  lay  Leith,  and  perhaps  Edinburgh, 
under  contribution.  The  wind,  which  was  fair  in 
the  night,  opposed  them  in  the  morning.  However, 
on  the  16th,  the  little  squadron  continued  all  day  to 
work  up  the  Firth.  At  this  time  a  member  of  the 
British  Parliament,  observing  them  from  the  coast 
of  Fife,  and  mistaking  them  for  the  king's  ships, 
sent  off  a  boat  to  inform  the  commodore  that  he 
was  greatly  afraid  of  Paul  Jones,  and  to  beg  some 
powder  and  shot.  Our  hero,  much  amused  with  the 
message,  sent  him  a  barrel  of  gunpowder,  with  a 
civil  answer  to  quiet  his  fears  and  an  apology  for 
not  including  shot  in  the  present. 

Next  morning,  at  daybreak,  every  thing  was  in 
perfect  readiness  to  commence  the  engagement,  and 
two  tacks  more  would  have  brought  the  strangers 
alongside  their  enemies,  when,  at  that  critical  mo 
ment,  a  sudden  gale  of  wind  swept  down  the  Firth, 
raging  with  such  violence  as  completely  to  over 
power  them,  to  sink  one  of  the  prizes  and  drive  all 
the  rest  of  the  squadron  fairly  out  to  sea.  By  this 
failure  the  captains  of  the  Pallas  and  Vengeance 
were  so  much  disheartened  that  they  could  not  be 
prevailed  on  to  renew  the  attempt. 

Continuing  their  cruise,  after  various  adventures, 
the  squadron  suddenly  discovered  the  homeward- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  101 

bound  British  Baltic  fleet,  off  Scarborough  Castle, 
escorted  by  the  frigate  Serapis  and  the  Countess  of 
Scarborough.  After  a  long  engagement,  in  which 
Paul  Jones  displayed  the  most  astonishing  skill,  in 
trepidity,  and  presence  of  mind,  the  Countess  of  Scar 
borough  struck  to  the  Pallas,  and  the  Serapis  to  the 
Bon-Homme  Richard,  which  latter  ship  was  reduced 
to  so  shattered  a  state  that  next  morning,  after  all 
hands  had  left  her,  she  went  to  the  bottom.  The 
Serapis  was  not  in  much  better  condition,  the  com 
modore  having,  with  his  own  hands,  lashed  the  two 
ships  together,  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  availing 
himself  of  his  superiority  in  weight  of  metal. 


102  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


CAPTUEE  OF  CHAELESTON. 

DURING  the  year  1780,  the  contest  between  Great 
Britain  and  her  ancient  colonies  was  carried  on 
chiefly  in  the  Southern  States.  As  soon  as  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  ascertained  that  Count  D'Estaing 
had  left  the  American  coast,  he  hastened  to  de 
spatch  an  expedition  against  South  Carolina,  leav 
ing  the  garrison  at  New  York  under  the  command  of 
General  Knyphausen.  Early  in 'February  the  troops 
landed  within  thirty  miles  of  the  capital.  Go 
vernor  Eutledge,  to  whom  the  Assembly  of  South 
Carolina  had  recently  given  extraordinary  powers, 
ordered  the  militia  to  rendezvous ;  but  the  repulse  at 
Savannah  at  the  close  of  the  preceding  campaign 
had  produced  such  a  dispiriting  effect  that  but  few 
complied.  The  defences  of  Charleston  consisted  of 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 

a  chain  of  redoubts,  lines,  and  batteries,  extending 
from  Ashley  to  Cooper  River,  on  which  were  mounted 
upwards  of  eighty  pieces  of  artillery  ;  and  on  all  sides 
of  the  town,  where  a  landing  was  practicable,  bat 
teries  were  erected  and  covered  with  artillery 
General  Lincoln,  trusting  to  these  defences,  and 
expecting  large  reinforcements,  remained  in  Charles 
ton  at  the  earnest  request  of  the  inhabitants,  and, 
with  the  force  under  his  command,  resolved  to  de 
fend  the  place.  On  the  21st  of  March  the  British 
fleet  crossed  the  bar,  and  anchored  in  Five  Fathom 
Hole.  Commodore  Whipple,  who  commanded  the 
American  vessels,  finding  it  impracticable  to  prevent 
the  enemy  from  passing  over  the  bar,  fell  back  to 
Fort  Moultrie,  and  afterwards  to  Charleston.  In 
a  few  days  the  town  was  invested  by  sea  and  land, 
and  the  British  commanders  summoned  General 
Lincoln  to  surrender:  the  demand  was,  however, 
met  by  a  firm  refusal.  The  batteries  of  the  first 
parallel  were  now  opened  upon  the  town,  and  soon 
made  a  visible  impression  ;  and,  to  prevent  the  recep 
tion  of  the  reinforcements  which  General  Lincoln 
expected,  Sir  Henry  Clinton  detached  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Webster,  with  1400  men,  by  the  advanced 
guard  of  which  detachment  the  American  cavalry, 
with  the  militia  attached  to  them,  were  surprised  in 
the  night  of  the*  14th  of  April,  and  completely 
routed  and  dispersed.  The  British  now  extended 
themselves  to  the  eastward  of  Cooper  River;  and 
about  this  time  Sir  Henry  Clinton  received  a  re 
inforcement  of  3000  men  from  New  York.  The 
garrison  having  no  reasonable  hope  of  effecting  a  re 
treat,  an  offer  was  made  of  surrendering  the  town ; 


104  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

but  the  proposed  conditions  were  rejected  by  the 
British  commanders.  The  besiegers  in  the  mean  time 
were  daily  advancing  their  works,  and  had  now  com 
pleted  their  third  parallel.  The  garrison  of  Fori 
Moultrie  surrendered;  and  the  broken  remains  of 
the  American  cavalry  under  Colonel  White  were 
again  surprised  by  Colonel  Tarleton,  and  the  whole 
either  killed,  taken,  or  dispersed.  Sir  Henry  Clin 
ton,  thus  successful  in  every  operation,  renewed  his 
former  offers  to  the  garrison  in  case  of  their  sur 
render;  but,  the  terms  so  far  as  they  respected  the 
citizens  not  being  satisfactory,  hostilities  recom 
menced.  The  batteries  of  the  third  parallel  now 
opened  on  the  town,  and  did  great  execution. 
Several  houses  were  burned,  numbers  of  the  besieged 
were  killed  at  their  guns,  and  the  British  prepared 
to  make  a  general  assault  by  land  and  water.  At 
length  a  great  number  of  citizens  of  Charleston  ad 
dressed  General  Lincoln  in  a  petition,  requesting  his 
acceptance  of  the  terms  which  had  been  previously 
offered.  A  capitulation  was  consequently  signed  on 
the  12th  of  May,  and  the  next  day  Major-General 
Leslie  took  possession  of  the  town. 

The  capital  having  surrendered,  measures  were 
adopted  to  overawe  the  inhabitants  of  the  country 
and  induce  them  to  return  to  thejr  allegiance  to  the 
king.  Garrisons  were  placed  in  different  parts  of  the 
state ;  and  2000  men  were  despatched  towards  North 
Carolina,  to  repel  several  parties  of  militia  who 
were  hastening  to  the  relief  of  Charleston. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


105 


BATTLE   OF   WAXHAWS. 

THE  fall  of  Charleston  was  a  matter  of  much  exul 
tation  to  the  British,  and  spread  a  deep  gloom  over 
the  aspect  of  American  affairs.  The  whole  Southern 
army  was  lost,  which,  although  small,  could  not  soon 
be  replaced.  The  number  of  tories  had  always  been 
considerable  in  the  South ;  and,  though  they  had 
been  previously  deterred  from  entering  the  field  by 
the  superior  force  of  their  opponents,  yet  the  recent 
British  successes  roused  all  their  lurking  partialities, 
decided  the  wavering,  and  encouraged  the  timid. 

Clinton  was  well  aware  of  the  advantage  he  had 
gained,  arid  immediately  adopted  measures  to  over 
awe  the  inhabitants  and  induce  them  to  return  tc 
their  former  allegiance,  by  the  rapidity  of  his  move 
ments  and  the  sudden  appearance  of  his  troops  in 
different  parts  of  the  country.  For  this  purpose  he 
despatched  a  body  of  2000  men  towards  North  Caro 


106 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


lina,  to  repel  the  small  parties  of  militia  who  were 
hastening  to  the  relief  of  Charleston.  Tarleton, 
with  700  horse  and  foot,  by  marching  one  hundred 
and  five  rniles  in  fifty-four  hours,  met  and  defeated 
Colonel  Buford,  at  the  Waxhaws.  Buford  was  ad 
vancing  towards  Charleston  at  the  head  of  a  body 
of  400  Continental  infantry  and  a  few  horsemen. 
Tarleton  easily  defeated  them  by  his  superior  forces, 
and  the  Americans  were  compelled  to  throw  down 
their  arms  and  implore  quarter ;  but,  by  Tarleton's 
orders,  the  work  of  butchery  was  continued  and 
nearly  all  of  the  regiment  were  killed,  or  so  badly 
wounded  that  they  could  not  be  removed  from  the 
field.  This  sanguinary  proceeding  spread  dismay 
and  indignation  throughout  the  State,  and  the  re 
membrance  of  "  Tarleton's  quarters"  imparted  a 
similar  character  to  future  conflicts. 


TARLETON'S   QUARTER. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


107 


GENERAL     GATES. 


BATTLE   OF  CAMDEN. 

IN  the  hope  of  relieving  Charleston,  Congress  had 
ordered  the  Maryland  and  Delaware  troops  to  march 
to  South  Carolina ;  but  they  were  delayed  so  much 
that  they  did  not  reach  the  Head  of  Elk  until 
April  16,  when  they  marched  directly  towards 
South  Carolina.  The  Baron  De  Kalb  commanded 
this  detachment;  but,  as  he  was  a  foreigner,  unac 
quainted  with  the  country  and  not  accustomed  tc 
undisciplined  troops,  Congress  thought  it  advisable 
to  give  the  command  of  the  Southern  army  to 
General  Gates.  It  was  hoped  that  his  fame  and  hia 


108  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

presence    as    commander   of    the    Southern    army 
would  animate  the  friends  of  independence. 

A  council  of  war  had  advised  De  Kalb  to  file  off 
from  the  direct  road  to  Camden,  through  the  well- 
cultivated  settlements  in  the  district  of  the  Wax- 
haws;  but  when,  on  the  27th  of  July,  Gates  joined 
the  army  and  took  the  command,  he  determined  to 
go  by  the  shortest  road  to  the  British  encampments. 
This  route  led  through  a  country  of  pine-barrens, 
sand-hills,  and  swamps,  infested  by  a  host  of  fugitive 
tories,  whose  poverty  afforded  no  subsistence  to  the 
army  and  whose  politics  prevented  any  secret  en 
terprises.  Soon  after  they  began  their  march,  they 
were  joined  by  Colonel  Porterfield,  with  100 
Virginia  militia.  The  army  soon  felt  the  want 
of  provisions;  and  fatigue,  fasting,  and  disappoint 
ments  as  to  supplies,  exasperated  them  to  a  high 
degree.  Starvation  became  a  cant  term  among  both 
officers  and  soldiers ;  and  the  whole  army  subsisted 
on  a  few  lean  cattle  found  in  the  woods,  and  green 
corn  and  peaches,  which  unwholesome  diet  naturally 
produced  dysenteries. 

The  army  at  length  reached  Clermont,  thirteen 
miles  from  Camden,  on  the  13th  of  August.  On 
the  next  day  General  Stephens  joined  them  with  a 
large  body  of  the  Virginia  militia,  making  the  whole 
number  of  the  army  3663,  of  which  900  were  regu 
lars  and  70  cavalry.  Cornwallis  had  now  joined  his 
army,  which  wras  concentrated  at  Camden.  It  had 
been  somewhat  reduced  by  sickness,  and  the  whole 
number  at  Camden  amounted  to  no  more  than  2000 
men. 

Gates  had  issued  a  proclamation  on  entering  the 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  109 

State,  inviting  the  patriotic  citizens  to  join  in  at 
tempting  to  rescue  their  State  from  its  conquerors. 
Although  this  proclamation  brought  many  into  the 
field,  the  number  did  not  equal  Gates's  expecta 
tions.  The  whole  country,  however,  appeared  to  be 
rising,  and  Cornwallis  found  that  he  must  either  re 
treat  to  Charleston  or  risk  a  battle.  He  chose  the 
latter;  and,  as  his  position  in  Camden  was  unfavor 
able  for  repelling  an  attack,  he  moved  out  on  the 
night  of  the  15th,  intending  to  assault  the  Ame 
rican  camp  at  Clermont.  Gates  had  sent  his  sick, 
wounded,  and  baggage,  to  the  Waxhaws,  and  was 
advancing  to  a  more  eligible  situation  about  eight 
miles  from  Carnden.  The  advance  of  both  armies 
met  in  the  night,  and  an  engagement  ensued.  Some 
of  Armand's  cavalry,  who  led  the  American  van, 
being  wounded,  fell  back  on  others,  who  suddenly 
recoiled;  by  which  movement  the  first  Maryland 
regiment  was  broken  and  the  whole  line  of  the 
army  thrown  into  confusion.  This  first  impression 
struck  deep,  and  dispirited  the  militia;  but  the 
Americans  soon  recovered  their  order,  and  both 
armies  retained  their  positions  during  the  night. 

In  the  morning  a  severe  and  general  engagement 
took  place.  At  the  first  onset  General  Stevens  led 
forward  his  men  within  fifty  paces  of  the  enemy, 
who  were  also  advancing,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Webster.  Stevens  then  cried  out,  "  Now,  my  brave 
fellows,  we  have  bayonets  as  well  as  they :  we 
will  charge  them !"  Cornwallis,  who  had  mistaken 
Stevens's  movement  for  a  change  of  position,  gave 
orders  to  Webster  to  begin  the  attack,  and  the 
British  advanced  with  a  loud  shout.  The  courage 


110 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


of  the  Virginia  militia  failed,  and  they  immediately 
threw  down  their  arms  and  fled  with  precipitation, 
communicating  their  panic  to  the  greater  part  of 
the  North  Carolina  militia.  The  Continentals,  who 
formed  the  right  wing  of  the  army,  stood  their 
ground,  and,  notwithstanding  the  inequality  of  num 
bers,  behaved  with  great  resolution.  For  some  time 


BATTLE    OP    CAMDEN,     AND     DEATH     OP     BAEON     DE     KALB. 

they  had  the  advantage  of  the  enemy,  and  were 
in  possession  of  a  number  of  prisoners;  but.  owing 
to  their  want  of  cavalry  and  to  the  cowardly  deser 
tion  of  the  militia,  they  were  surrounded  and  over 
powered  by  numbers.  Tarleton  charged  them  as 
they  broke,  and  pursued  them  as  far  as  Hanging 
Rock,  twenty-two  miles  from  the  scene  of  action. 


NATAL     EXPLOITS.  Ill 

Two  hundred  and  ninety  American  prisoners  were 
carried  into  Camden,  of  which  number  206  were 
Continentals,  82  North  Carolina  militia,  and  two 
Virginians.  The  Americans  lost  the  whole  of  their 
artillery,  eight  field-pieces,  and  nearly  all  their  bag 
gage.  Their  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  in  the 
battle  could  not  well  be  ascertained.  That  of  the 
British  was  stated  at  69  killed,  245  wounded,  and 
11  missing. 

The  Baron  De  Kalb,  while  making  a  vigorous 
charge  at  the  head  of  the  regiment  of  infantry,  fell 
under  eleven  wounds.  His  aide-de-camp,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Du  Buysson,  received  him  in  his  arms,  and 
endeavored  to  save  him  from  the  fury  of  the  foe  by 
announcing  his  name  and  nation.  He  was  wounded 
while  attempting  to  shield  his  friend ;  but  a  British 
officer,  coming  up,  ordered  every  attention  to  be  paid 
to  the  unfortunate  De  Kalb.  He  was  a  German  by 
birth,  and  had  formerly  been  long  in  the  French 
service.  He  was  second  in  command  in  this  action, 
and  gave  new  proofs  of  his  bravery  and  experience. 
When  he  made  his  last  charge,  he  was  still  ignorant 
of  the  flight  of  the  left  wing  and  centre,  as  the 
fogginess  of  the  morning  prevented  him  from  seeing 
what  was  passing ;  and,  when  wounded  and  taken, 
he  would  scarcely  believe  that  Gates  was  defeated. 
He  expired  in  a  few  hours,  spending  his  last  breath 
in  dictating  a  letter  expressing  the  warmest  affection 
for  the  officers  and  men  of  his  division  and  the  most 
exalted  admiration  of  their  courage  and  good  conduct. 


112 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


COLONEL     SHELBY. 


BATTLE   OF   KING'S  MOUNTAIN. 

A  SPIRIT  of  enterprise  beginning  to  revive  among 
the  American  militia  about  this  time,  (Oct.  7, 1780,) 
prompted  Colonel  Clark  to  make  an  attempt  on  the 
British  post  at  Augusta,  in  Georgia ;  but  in  this  he 
failed,  and  was  obliged  to  retreat.  Major  Ferguson, 
with  the  hope  of  intercepting  his  party,  kept  near 
the  mountains,  and  at  a  considerable  distance  from 
support.  These  circumstances,  together  with  the 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  113 

depredations  of  the  loyalists,  induced  those  hardy 
republicans  who  reside  on  the  west  side  of  the  Alle- 
ghany  Mountains  to  form  an  enterprise  for  reducing 
that  distinguished  partisan.  This  was  done  of  their 
own  motion,  without  any  direction  from  the  govern 
ment  of  America  or  from  the  officers  of  the  Con 
tinental  army. 

There  was,  without  any  apparent  design,  a  power 
ful  combination  of  several  detached  commanders  of 
the  adjacent  States,  with  their  respective  commands 
of  militia.  Colonel  Campbell,  of  Virginia,  Colonels 
Cleveland,  Shelby,  Sevier,  and  McDowel,  of  North 
Ca-rolina,  together  with  Colonels  Lacey,  Hawthorn, 
arid  Hill,  of  South  Carolina,  all  rendezvoused  to 
gether,  with  a  number  of  men  amounting  to  1600; 
though  they  were  under  no  general  command,  and 
though  they  were  not  called  upon  to  embody  by  any 
common  authority,  or  indeed  by  any  authority  at 
all,  but  that  of  a  general  impulse  of  their  own  minds. 
They  had  so  little  of  the  mechanism  of  a  regular 
army,  that  the  colonels,  by  common  consent,  com 
manded  each  day  alternately.  The  hardships  these 
volunteers  underwent  were  very  great.  Some  of 
them  subsisted,  for  weeks  together,  without  tasting 
bread  or  salt  or  spirituous  liquors,  and  slept  in 
the  woods  without  blankets.  The  running  stream 
quenched  their  thirst.  At  night  the  earth  afforded 
them  a  bed,  and  the  heavens,  or,  at  most,  the  limbs 
of  trees,  were  their  only  covering.  Ears  of  corn  or 
pumpkins  thrown  into  the  fire,  with  occasional  sup 
plies  of  beef  or  venison,  killed  and  roasted  in  the 
woods,  were  the  chief  articles  of  their  provisions. 
They  had  neither  commissaries,  quarter-masters,  nor 


114  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

stores  of  any  kind.  They  selected  about  1000  oi 
their  best  men  and  mounted  them  on  their  fleetest 
horses.  These  attacked  Major  Ferguson  (7th  Octo 
ber)  on  the  top  of  King's  Mountain,  near  the  con 
fines  of  North  and  South  Carolina.  The  Americans 
formed  three  parties.  Colonel  Lacey,  of  South  Caro 
lina,  led  one,  which  attacked  on  the  west.  The  two 
others  were  commanded  by  Colonels  Campbell  and 
Cleveland, — one  of  which  attacked  on  the  east,  and 
the  other  in  the  centre. 

On  this  occasion,  Colonel  Cleveland  addressed  his 
party  in  the  following  plain,  unvarnished  language : — 
"  My  brave  fellows  ! — We  have  beat  the  lories,  and 
we  can  beat  them.  They  are  all  cowards.  If  they 
had  the  spirit  of  men,  they  would  join  with  their 
fellow-citizens  in  supporting  the  independence  of 
their  country.  When  engaged,  you  are  not  to  wait 
for  the  word  of  command  from  me.  I  will  show 
you  by  my  example  how  to  fight.  I  can  undertake 
no  more.  Every  man  must  consider  himself  as  an 
officer,  and  act  from  his  own  judgment.  Fire  as 
quick  as  you  can,  and  stand  as  long  as  you  can. 
When  you  can  do  no  better,  get  behind  trees,  or 
retreat ;  but  I  beg  of  you  not  to  run  quite  off.  If 
we  be  repulsed,  let  us  make  a  point  to  return  and 
renew  the  fight.  Perhaps  we  may  have  better  luck 
in  the  second  attempt  than  in  the  first.  If  any 
of  you  be  afraid,  such  have  leave  to  retire;  and 
they  are  requested  immediately  to  take  them 
selves  off." 

Ferguson,  with  great  boldness,  attacked  the  assail 
ants  with  fixed  bayonets,  and  compelled  them  suc 
cessively  to  retire ;  but  they  only  fell  back  a  little 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  115 

way,  and,  getting  behind  trees  and  rocks,  renewed 
their  fire  in   almost  every  direction.     The  British, 
being  uncovered,  were  aimed  at  by  the  American 
marksmen,  and  many  of  them  were  slain.     An  un 
usual  number  of  the  killed  were  found  shot  in  the 
head.     Riflemen  took  off  riflemen  with  such  exact 
ness  that  they  killed  each  other  when  taking  sight, 
so  effectually  that  their  eyes  remained,  after  they 
wrere  dead,  one   shut  and  the  other  open,   in  the 
usual  manner  of  marksmen  when  levelling  at  their 
object.      Major  Ferguson  displayed  as  much  bravery 
as  was  possible  in  his  situation;  but  his  encamp 
ment  on   the   top  of  the  mountain  was  not  well 
chosen,   as  it    gave  the  Americans  an  opportunity 
of  covering  themselves  in  their  approaches.     Had 
he  pursued  his  march,  on  charging  and  driving  the 
first  part  of  the  militia  which  gave  way,  he  might 
have  got  off  with  the  most  of  his  men ;  but  his  un 
conquerable  spirit  disdained  either  to  flee  or  to  sur 
render.    After  a  severe  conflict,  he  received  a  mortal 
wound.     No  chance  of  escape  being  left,  and  all 
prospect  of  successful  resistance  being  at  an  end, 
the  contest  was  ended    by  the    submission  of  the 
survivors.     Upwards  of  800  became  prisoners,  and 
225  were  killed  and  wounded.      Very  few  of  the 
assailants  fell;    but  in  their  number  was  Colonel 
Williams,  a  distinguished  militia  officer  in  Ninety- 
Six  district,  who  had  been  very  active  in  opposing 
the  re-establishment  of  British  government.    Ten  of 
the  royal  militia  who  had  surrendered  were  hanged 
by  their  conquerors,  in  retaliation  for  similar  acts 
of  the  tories. 


116 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


GENERAL     PICKENS. 


BATTLE   OF   THE   COWPENS. 

IN  January,  1781,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Tarletoii 
was  sent  by  Cornwallis  in  pursuit  of  General  Mor 
gan,  who  desired  rather  to  avoid  an  engagement  for 
the  moment,  but  at  last  determined  to  await  his 
approach  and  give  him  battle.  On  the  morning  of  the 
17th  he  was  apprised  of  the  proximity  of  Tarleton, 
and  made  preparations  to  receive  him.  Morgan 
was  posted  at  the  Cowpens,  near  the  boundary-line 
of  the  Carolinas.  He  threw  out  an  advanced  guard 
under  Colonel  Cunningham  and  Major  McDowell, 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  117 

who  were  directed,  upon  the  approach  of  the  enemy, 
to  skirmish,  and  fall  back  upon  the  first  line,  which 
was  formed  of  militia  under  command  of  Gene 
ral  Pickens.  The  second  line,  stationed  at  a  distance 
of  two  hundred  yards  in  the  rear  of  the  first,  con 
sisted  of  the  Continentals  and  Captains  Triplet's  and 
Taite's  companies  of  Virginia  militia,  together  with 
Captain  Beattie's  Georgians,  the  whole  under  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Howard.  The  cavalry,  under  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Washington,  formed  the  reserve. 

Previous  to  the  engagement,  Morgan  addressed  his 
men,  and,  in  order  that  no  confusion  might  be  oc 
casioned  by  the  breaking  of  the  militia  should  they 
be  overcome  by  the  superior  force  and  discipline  of 
the  enemy,  he  directed  their  officers,  in  case  they 
were  compelled  to  retire,  immediately  to  form  upon 
the  flank  of  the  second  line.  Tarleton's  advanced 
guard  consisted  of  a  legion  of  infantry,  together  with 
three  companies  of  light  infantry;  the  centre  of  the 
first  battalion  of  the  71st,  the  entire  7th  regiment, 
and  the  field-pieces ;  and  the  rear  of  infantry  and 
cavalry.  After  passing  Thickell  Creek,  he  ordered 
a  portion  of  his  cavalry  to  the  advance,  when,  com 
ing  up  with  the  American  light  troops,  the  latter 
skirmished  and  gave  way. 

Tarleton  formed  his  line  of  battle  of  three  bodies 
of  infantry,  separated  by  the  field-pieces, — each  flank 
supported  by  cavalry.  One  hundred  and  fifty  yards 
in  the  rear  of  the  left  flank  was  placed  the  reserve 
of  one  battalion  of  infantry  and  200  dragoons. 
His  force  advanced  until  they  came  up  with  Pickens's 
line,  which  delivered  its  fire  with  deadly  effect  when 
they  were  within  fifty  yards.  This  held  them  in 


118  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

check  for  a  short  time ;  but  they  began  again  to  ad 
vance,  and  forced  the  militia  to  give  way.  The 
latter,  however,  were  rallied,  and  formed  on  the  right 
and  left  of  Howard's  position.  The  enemy  still  con 
tinued  to  push  up,  and  were  received  in  a  most  gal 
lant  manner  by  Howard,  who  stood  perfectly  firm, 


BATTLE    OP    THE    COWPEN8. 


and  a  terrible  contest  ensued.  Tarleton  was  here 
obliged  to  bring  up  his  reserve,  the  presence  of 
which  gave  new  spirits  to  his  troops. 

Howard,  in  giving  an  order  for  the  protection  of 
his  right  flank,  was  misunderstood;  and  confusion 
was  thus  caused,  when  the  line  commenced  breaking. 
Washington,  on  the  left,  after  the  giving  way  of  the 
first  line,  gallantly  charged  the  enemy's  cavalry,  who 
were  coming  down  upon  them,  and  was  of  the  great- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  119 

est  assistance  in  protecting  Pickens  wL  lie  his  com 
mand  was  rallied.  As  Howard's  line  was  falling 
back,  that  officer  received  a  message  from  Washing 
ton,  desiring  him  to  fire  and  he  would  at  the  same 
moment  charge.  Morgan  now  gave  the  word  of 
command,  when  the  troops  faced  about,  fired, 
charged,  and  the  enemy  was  overcome  in  front. 
Washington  was  still  engaged  on  the  left  with  the 
artillery  and  a  portion  of  the  cavalry  opposed  to  him. 
Howard's  right  was  now  menaced  by  the  71st,  and 
a  portion  of  the  cavalry  advanced  to  the  support  of 
that  regiment.  Morgan  sent  one  company  to  the 
support  of  Washington,  and  ordered  the  right  bat 
talion  to  fall  upon  the  71st,  while  three  companies 
held  secure  the  prisoners  who  had  already  been 
taken. 

These  dispositions  had  the  desired  effect,  and,  after 
severe  fighting,  the  entire  British  army  was  over 
come,  and  Tarleton  left  the  field,  carrying  with  him 
a  few  dragoons,  and  was  for  some  distance  pursued 
by  Washington.  Towards  the  close  of  the  engage 
ment,  Washington,  while  charging,  wellnigh  lost 
his  life.  Being  far  in  advance  of  his  command,  and 
before  he  was  aware  of  his  dangerous  position,  he 
was  surrounded  by  a  number  of  the  enemy,  and,  but 
for  the  timely  intervention  of  some  of  his  men, 
must  have  been  killed.  The  loss  of  the  British  in 
this  battle  may  be  stated  as  follows  : — killed,  60 ; 
wounded,  124;  prisoners,  600:  besides  which,  there 
fell  into  the  hands  of  Morgan  one  hundred  dragoon- 
horses,  two  four-pounder  field-pieces,  eight  hundred 
muskets,  thirty-five  baggage-wagons,  and  two  stand 
of  colors.  On  the  other  hand,  our  army  lost  11 


120  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

killed  and  61  wounded.  Thus,  in  fifty  minutes,  did 
800  soldiers,  many  of  them  raw,  overcome  1000 
thoroughly-disciplined  British  troops,  permitting  but 
a  handful  to  escape. 

It  may  be  readily  supposed  that  so  complete  a  vic 
tory  had  a  great  effect  on  the  spirits  of  the  army. 
Congress  passed  resolutions  highly  complimentary  to 
the  officers  engaged,  and  voted  medals  to  Morgan, 
Howard,  and  Washington,  with  swords  to  Pickens 
and  Triplet.  General  Washington  issued  an  "  order" 
to  the  army  in  which  he  accorded  great  praise  to  the 
victors. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


121 


COLONE1    LEB. 


BATTLE   OF   GUILFORD  COURT-HOUSE. 

ALMOST  immediately  after  the  battle  of  the  Cow- 
pens,  General  Morgan  effected  a  junction  with  Gene-* 
ral  Greene,  then  in  command  of  the  Southern  De 
partment,  and  who  deemed  it  necessary  for  the  time 
to  avoid  an  action  with  Cornwallis.  Requiring  a 
corps  of  light  troops  to  act  as  a  covering-party  during 
his  retreat  and  to  hang  about  and  harass  the  enemy 
in  his  movements,  General  Greene  selected  for 
this  purpose  the  troops  under  Lieutenant-Colonels 
Howard,  Washington,  and  Lee,  and  the  command 
of  this  body  was  given  to  Colonel  0.  H.  Williams, 
of  Maryland. 

Its  duties,  which  were  of  the  most  arduous  nature, 
were  performed  in  a  gallant  manner;  and  on  the 
15th  of  February  the  army  had  posted  itself  upon 


122  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

the  opposite  side  of  the  river  Dan.  Here  General 
Greene  remained  until  he  received  reinforcements 
and  completed  his  arrangements,  when  he  recrossed 
the  Dan  and  took  up  the  line  of  march  for  Guilford 
Court-House,  South  Carolina,  where  he  arrived  on 
the  15th  of  March. 

The  enemy  being  now  close  at  hand,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Lee  was  thrown  forward  to  feel  his  move 
ments,  when  he  engaged  a  detachment  and  secured 
a  few  prisoners ;  but  upon  advancing  farther  he 
found  them  in  too  great  numbers,  and  was  obliged 
to  retire. 

Greene  made  disposition  of  his  troops  in  the  fol 
lowing  order.  The  first  line  was  composed  of  North 
Carolina  militia,  the  right  under  General  Eaton  and 
the  left  under  General  Butler,  with  two  pieces  of 
artillery  under  Captain  Singleton.  The  right  flank 
was  supported  by  Kirkwood's  Delawareans,  Lynch's 
riflemen,  and  the  cavalry,  all  under  Lieutenant-Colo 
nel  Washington ;  the  left,  in  like  manner,  by  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Campbell's  riflemen  and  the  infantry 
of  the  legion,  all  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Lee. 
The  second  line,  which  was  formed  three  hundred 
yards  in  the  rear  of  the  first,  consisted  of  two  brigades 
of  Virginia  militia,  the  right  under  General  Lawson 
and  the  left  under  General  Stevens.  The  third, 
four  hundred  yards  in  reserve,  was  formed  upon  the 
brow  of  the  hill  near  the  court-house.  The  right 
of  this  line  was  composed  of  Hawes's  and  Green's 
Virginia  regiments,  under  General  Huger, — the  left 
of  the  1st  and  2d  Maryland  regiments,  the  former 
under  Gunby,  the  latter  under  Ford;  —  the  whole 
commanded  by  Colonel  Williams.  In  the  centre 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  123 

of  the  last    line  was  placed  the  remainder  of  the 
artillery. 

Captain  Singleton  commenced  his  fire,  which  was 
returned  by  the  enemy,  who  had  formed  their  lino 
of  battle, — the  right  wing  under  General  Leslie  and 
the  left  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Webster,  with  the 
artillery  in  the  centre  under  Lieutenant  McLeod. 
The  first  battalion  of  the  guards,  under  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Norton,  served  as  a  support  for  the  right;  and 
the  second,  with  one  company  of  grenadiers,  under 
General  O'Hara,  for  the  left  wing.  Tarleton's  dra 
goons  were  held  in  reserve.  The  British  commander, 
having  made  all  his  dispositions,  advanced,  fired  one 
round,  and  charged  bayonets.  Our  militia,  having 
given  a  few  shots  while  the  enemy  was  at  a  distance, 
were  seized  by  a  panic  when  they  saw  him  coming 
down  upon  them.  Many  of  them  threw  away  their 
muskets;  and  the  entreaties  of  Butler,  Eaton,  and 
Davie,  with  the  threats  of  Lee,  were  of  no  avail. 
Almost  the  entire  body  fled.  The  artillery  now 
retired  to  the  left  of  the  Marylanders.  At  this 
crisis  the  enemy  considered  victory  as  already 
within  his  grasp,  and  continued  to  push  on,  when  he 
was  attacked  on  his  right  and  left  by  Lee  and  Wash 
ington.  Cornwallis,  perceiving  this,  threw  one  regi 
ment  out  to  engage  Lee,  and  one  regiment,  together 
with  his  light  infantry  and  yagers,  to  resist  Washing 
ton,  filling  up  the  breach  thus  created  by  advancing 
the  grenadiers  with  two  battalions  of  the  guards, 
which  had  formed  the  supports  to  the  flanks.  Lee  and 
Washington  fell  back  in  good  order,  delivering  their 
fire  until  they  came  up  with  the  second  line,  which 
gave  battle  in  good  earnest.  The  right  flank  was 


124  BATTLE-FIELDS      A.  N  D 

supported  by  Washington,  who  ordered  Lynch's 
riflemen  to  fall  upon  the  left  of  Webster,  who  had  to 
be  supported  by  O'Hara.  Here  Webster  ordered  the 
33d  regiment  to  attack  Lynch,  and  was  thereby  in 
a  measure  relieved.  O'Hara  charged  the  Virginia 
right  wing,  which  was  obliged  to  yield  ground. 

Lee,  on  the  left,  nobly  did  his  duty,  and  firmly  held 
his  position.  When  the  militia  on  the  right  gave 
way,  those  on  the  left  fell  back,  and  were  not  rallied 
until  they  came  up  on  the  left  of  the  third  line. 
Campbell's  riflemen  and  Lee's  legion  stood  perfectly 
firm,  and  continued  the  contest  against  one  regiment, 
one  battalion,  and  a  body  of  infantry  and  riflemen. 
The  American  reserve,  with  the  artillery,  posted  in  a 
most  favorable  position,  was  fresh  and  ready  for  the 
word  of  command.  Webster,  having  overcome  the 
Americans  of  the  second  line  in  his  front,  advanced 
upon  the  third,  and  was  received  by  Gunby's  Maryland 
regiment  with  a  most  galling  fire,  which  made  his 
troops  falter.  Gunby  advanced,  charging  bayonets, 
when  the  enemy  was  completely  routed. 

Leslie,  after  the  left  of  the  Virginia  militia  gave 
way,  advanced  to  the  support  of  O'Hara,  who  had 
forced  the  American  right  wing;  and  the  combined 
commands  of  these  generals  charged  the  2d  Maryland 
regiment  of  the  third  line.  This  regiment,  panic- 
stricken,  fled.  Gunby,  coining  up  at  the  time,  held 
the  enemy  in  check,  and  a  deadly  conflict  ensued. 
Gunby  having  his  horse  shot  under  him,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Howard  assumed  the  command.  Washing 
ton,  seeing  how  hot  was  the  battle  at  this  point, 
pushed  forward  and  charged  the  enemy;  and, 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  125 

Howard  advancing  with  his  bayonets  levelled,  the 
British  were  completely  routed. 

The  pursuit  was  continued  for  some  distance, 
when  Cornwallis  came  up  and  determined  to  gain 
the  victory  at  any  cost.  He  opened  the  fire  of  his 
artillery  alike  on  friend  and  foe,  causing  an  indis 
criminate  slaughter  of  British  and  Americans. 

The  British  were  rallied  at  all  points ;  and  Greene, 
considering  it  better  to  preserve  the  advantages  he 
had  gained,  withdrew  his  forces.  This  was  done  in 
good  order,  and  Cornwallis  continued  the  pursuit 
but  a  short  distance.  The  loss  of  the  Americans 
was  about  400  in  killed  and  wounded ;  that  of  the 
British,  about  800.  The  enemy  retained  the  field, 
but  his  victory  was  both  empty  and  disastrous. 

In  our  own  day  the  same  measures  as  those  taken 
by  Cornwallis  for  the  recovery  of  the  lost  field  of 
Guilford  have  been  pursued  by  the  Kussians  in  the 
defence  of  Sebastopol.  The  following  extract  from  a 
description  of  the  battle  of  Balaklava,  October  25, 
1854,  will  illustrate  our  remark: — "When  there 
took  place  an  act  of  atrocity,  without  parallel  in  the 

modern  warfare  of  civilized  nations They  [the 

Russians]  saw  their  own  cavalry  mingled  with  the 
troopers  who  had  just  ridden  over  them;  and,  to  the 
eternal  disgrace  of  the  Russian  name,  the  miscreants 
poured  a  murderous  volley  of  grape  and  canister  on 
the  mass  of  struggling  men  and  horses,  mingling 
friend  and  foe  in  one  common  ruin."* 

*  "The  War,  from  the  Landing  at  Gallipoli  to  the  Death  of 
Lord  Raglan."  By  W.  H.  Russell,  London,  1855.  (P  232.) 


126 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


GENERAL    GREENE. 


BATTLE  OF  HOBKIRK'S  HILL. 

ON  the  morning  of  the  25th  of  April,  1781,  Gene 
ral  Greene,  being  then  in  the  neighborhood  of  Cam- 
den,  South  Carolina,  received  information  that  the 
British  of  the  command  of  Lord  Rawdon  were  ad 
vancing.  His  line  of  battle  was  soon  formed  on 
Hobkirk's  Hill,  in  the  following  manner.  The  right, 
under  General  Huger,  was  composed  of  Hawes's  and 
Campbell's  Virginians;  the  left,  under  Colonel  Wil 
liams,  consisted  of  Gunby's  and  Ford's  Marylanders, 
with  two  pieces  of  artillery,  under  Colonel  Harrison, 
iu  the  centre.  The  reserve  was  formed  of  250  North 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  127 

Carolina  militia,  under  Colonel  Reid,  together  with 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Washington's  cavalry.  Kirk- 
wood's  gallant  Delawareans,  who  had  been  stationed 
in  front,  together  with  Captain  Smith's  company, 
skirmished  with  the  enemy  for  some  time,  and  then 
fell  back  in  good  order  as  they  approached.  Raw- 
don  advanced  in  one  narrow  line,  formed  in  the  fol 
lowing  manner.  On  the  right  was  placed  the  63d 
regiment,  in  the  centre  a  body  of  volunteers,  and 
on  the  left  a  corps  called  the  King's  American  regi 
ment.  The  Irish  volunteers  supported  the  right 
and  Colonel  Robinson  the  left  flank.  The  British 
line  was  scarcely  more  than  one-half  the  width  of 
the  American,  and  at  once  General  Greene  made 
dispositions  to  outflank  it.  For  this  purpose  he 
ordered  Campbell  to  advance  on  the  right,  while 
Ford  made  a  similar  movement  on  the  left,  Hawes 
and  Gunby  to  charge  bayonets  in  the  centre,  and 
Washington  to  fall  upon  the  rear.  All  seemed  to 
promise  well ;  when  Ford,  gallantly  pushing  forward, 
received  a  mortal  wound,  by  which  some  disorder 
was  created ;  but  on  they  pressed.  But,  almost  im 
mediately  after,  Gunby's  regiment  recoiled  and  fell 
back ;  whereby  Ford's  men  were  unsupported,  and 
gave  way  in  like  manner.  Campbell's  regiment, 
engaged  on  the  right,  stood  firm  for  some  time,  and 
at 'last  began  to  falter, — was  rallied,  but  again  re 
treated.  Hawes's  Virginia  regiment  was  now  the 
only  one  to  stand ;  and  this  body  Greene  headed  in 
person.  But  all  his  efforts  to  regain  the  battle  were 
useless :  the  enemy  passed  on,  and  nothing  could  hold 
him  in  check. 

During   all  of  this  time  Washington    had    been 


128  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

actively  employed.  After  receiving  orders  to  ad 
vance,  he  charged  and  turned  the  enemy's  left 
flank,  and  then  pushed  on,  that  he  might  fall  upoc. 
his  rear.  He  had  now  secured  many  prisoners, 
when  he  found  that  the  main  body  of  the  army 
was  in  confusion,  and,  coming  up  in  time,  he  saved 
the  artillery  by  charging  the  enemy,  who  were  just 
about  capturing  it,  and  brought  it  off  the  field.  He 
also  served  as  a  protection  to  the  retreating  army 
while  Greene  drew  off  his  forces.  The  Americans 
were  halted  at  a  distance  of  two  miles  from  the 
field  of  battle,  where  Washington  retraced  his  steps 
in  order  to  gain  information  relative  to  the  position 
of  the  enemy.  He  succeeded  in  drawing  Major 
Coffin,  the  commander  of  the  British  cavalry,  into 
ambush,  and,  charging  upon  his  squadron,  it  fled 
before  him,  losing  very  heavily  in  killed,  wounded, 
and  prisoners.  The  day  following,  the  American 
general  fell  back  to  Rigley's  Mills, — five  miles. 

General  Greene's  loss  in  the  battle  of  Hobkirk's 
Hill  amounted  to  268,  and  that  of  the  enemy  to 
258.  Lord  Rawdon,  finding  that  his  position  had 
become  somewhat  critical  by  the  commands  of 
Marion  and  Sumter  being  comparatively  disen 
gaged,  from  the  fact  of  the  garrisons  of  Orange  burg, 
Fort  Motte,  and  Fort  Watson,  having  given  way, 
determined  to  evacuate  Camden,  which  he  did  'on 
the  10th  day  of  May,  after  destroying  a  considerable 
amount  of  baggage  and  setting  fire  to  many  of  the 
buildings  of  the  town. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


129 


BATTLE  OP  EUTAW  SPRINGS. 

BATTLE   OF  EUTAW  SPRINGS. 

AT  an  early  hour  in  the  morning  of  the  8th  of 
September,  1781,  General  Greene  advanced  upon 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Stewart,  who  was  posted  in  a 
strong  position  on  the  left  bank  of  Eutaw  Creek, 
near  the  springs  of  that  name,  in  South  Carolina, 
with  a  British  force  amounting  to  2300  men.  Pre 
paratory  to  moving,  Greene  drew  up  his  men  in  two 
lines,  in  the  following  manner : — The  first  was  formed 
of  North  Carolina  militia,  under  Colonel  Malmedy, 
in  the  centre,  with  the  4th  Carolina  militia  on  the 
right  and  left.  Of  this  line  the  right  was  com 
manded  by  General  Marion  and  the  left  by  General 
Pickens.  The  second  was  composed  of  Continentals ; 
the  Virginia  line,  under  Colonel  Campbell,  in  the 
centre,  with  that  of  North  Carolina,  under  Lieuten- 

9 


130  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

ant-Colonel  Ashe,  on  the  right,  and  of  Marj'land, 
under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Howard  anvl  Major  Hard- 
man,  on  the  left.  General  Sumner  wns  placed  in 
command  of  the  right  wing,  and  Colonel  Williams  of 
the  left.  With  each  of  these  were  placed  two  field- 
pieces, — those  of  the  first  under  Captain-Lieutenant 
Gaines,  and  those  of  the  second  under  Captain 
Browne.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Washington's  cavalry 
and  Kirkwood's  Delawareans  were  held  in  reserve. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Lee,  who  was  detailed  for  the 
support  of  the  right  flank,  and  Colonel  Henderson, 
for  a  similar  duty  on  the  left,  constituted,  at  the  same 
time,  the  van.  By  eight  o'clock  this  advance  came 
up  with  Major  Coffin's  cavalry,  which,  after  a  spirited 
engagement,  was  repulsed  with  a  severe  loss. 

Upon  Stewart's  seeing  the  first  intimation  of  the 
approach  of  the  Americans,  he  formed  his  army  in 
one  line,  as  follows.  On  the  right  was  placed  the 
3d  regiment ;  the  centre  was  held  hy  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Cruger,  with  a  miscellaneous  command ;  and 
the  left  was  composed  of  the  63d  and  64th  regi 
ments.  The  right  wing  was  supported  hy  Major 
Majoribanks's  light  infantry,  wrhile  Major  Coffin,  with 
his  dragoons,  supported  the  left.  At  intervals  in 
the  line  were  placed  the  pieces  of  artillery.  The 
reserve  of  infantry  was  posted  at  the  rear  of  the  left 
flank.  Lee,  upon  coming  up  with  the  main  body  of 
the  enemy,  who  were  provided  with  artillery,  sent 
to  Greene  for  support,  when  Colonel  Williams  ar 
rived,  with  Gaines's  field-pieces,  and  the  British  van 
goon  gave  way.  The  American  line  came  on,  and 
Lee  and  Henderson  took  their  proper  positions, — the 
former  as  a  support  to  the  right  and  the  latter  to 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  131 

the  left  flank.  The  battle  now  became  general.  The 
63d  regiment  was  opposed  by  the  inimtry  of  the 
legion  on  the  right,  and  Majoribanks's  light  infantry 
was  handsomely  engaged  by  Henderson  on  the  left. 
Our  militia  in  the  centre  held  up  admirably  against 
the  combined  attacks  of  a  portion  of  Cruger's  com. 
mand,  together  with  the  entire  64th, — in  all.  twice 
their  number.  It  was  not  until  they  had  fired  seven 
teen  rounds  that  they  retired  from  the  battle,  having 
covered  themselves  with  glory.  The  invincible  spirit 
shown  by  these  men  was  in  a  measure  owing  to 
the  confidence  in  their  leaders,  Marion  and  Pickens. 
It  has  already  been  seen  how  the  militia  were  ral 
lied  by  General  Pickens  a  few  months  before,  at 
the  battle  of  the  Cowpens.  That  was  the  first  in 
stance  on  record  during  the  war  of  this  description 
of  force  being  brought  to  bear  after  having  once 
given  way.  Sumner,  with  a  portion  of  the  Conti 
nentals,  was  immediately  ordered  up  to  take  the 
place  of  the  militia  between  Lee  and  Henderson, 
who  had  continued  to  hold  their  positions  on  the 
right  and  left.  Colonel  Stewart,  upon  seeing  the 
advance  of  Sumner,  at  once  ordered  his  reserve  to 
take  post  on  the  left  of  the  position.  Henderson 
was  now  exposed  to  a  most  galling  fire;  but  his  troops 
stood  it  manfully.  Here  Henderson  was  himself 
wounded,  which  circumstance  created  some  confu 
sion  in  the  ranks;  but  Colonel  Wade  Hampton,  as 
suming  command,  restored  confidence.  Sumner 
maintained  his  ground  for  some  time,  nobly  fight 
ing;  but,  the  enemy  having  reinforced  their  line  by 
calling  up  their  reserve,  he  was  obliged  to  give  way 
before  them,  when  they  came  on  pellmell.  Greene 


132  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

instantly  ordered  up  the  Marylanders,  under  Wil 
liams,  and  the  Virginians,  under  Campbell,  to  charge 
upon  this  mass  of  confusion ;  Lee  at  the  same  time 
directed  Major  Kudolph  to  turn  the  enemy's  left 
flank,  which  order  was  handsomely  and  promptly 
executed,  and  the  different  regiments  of  the  British 
in  front  fell  back  before  the  bayonets  of  Virginia 
and  Maryland.  There  was  one  alone  that  stood 
firm  and  undismayed.  This  was  the  3d.  But  resist 
ance  was  vain :  it  began  to  falter  and  then  to  retreat. 
A  vigorous  pursuit  was  now  kept  up  on  the  part  of 
the  conquering  Americans. 

By  making  a  charge  upon  the  right,  as  these 
movements  were  going  forward,  Washington  had 
materially  contributed  to  this  happy  result;  but 
Majoribanks  had  continued  to  hold  his  strong  posi 
tion,  when  Washington  was  directed,  with  the  aid 
of  Hampton  and  Kirkwood,  to  dislodge  him.  The 
thicket  of  black-jack  through  which  it  was  necessary 
to  pass  before  reaching  Majoribanks,  in  the  direction 
Washington  was  now  taking,  was  found  entirely  im 
penetrable.  Majoribanks  lay  with  his  right  almost 
resting  upon  the  creek ;  and  Washington,  finding  an 
open  space  between  the  enemy's  flank  and  the 
stream,  gave  the  order,  "  by  sections  wheel  to  the 
left,"  that  he  might  get  into  position  to  pass  through 
tl  is  space  and  come  at  his  enemy.  This  necessarily 
placed  his  officers  between  their  own  troops  and 
those  of  the  British;  and  Majoribanks  now  poured 
in  a  terrible  fire,  which  mowed  down  both  officers 
and  men.  Washington  was  at  this  instant  unhorsed, 
and,  while  disengaging  himself,  was  taken  prisoner. 
Hampton  headed  the  cavalry,  and  attempted  to 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  133 

charge,  but  was  repulsed,  although  the  Delawareans 
stood  firm. 

Notwithstanding  his  success,  it  was  necessary  for 
Majoribanks  to  fall  back  with  the  line  of  the  army, 
a  portion  of  whom  had  taken  up  their  position  in  a 
brick  house  in  the  rear.  Greene  now  attempted  to 
dislodge  these  soldiers;  but  it  was  found  impossible, 
with  his  light  field-pieces,  to  make  an  impression 
upon  the  walls. 

The  American  ranks  at  this  point  became  dis 
ordered  by  many  of  the  soldiers  entering  the  enemy's 
camp  and  seizing  upon  whatever  they  could  find  to 
eat  or  drink.  Major  Coffin  charged  them,  but  was 
repulsed  by  Hampton,  who  in  turn  was  obliged  to 
yield  to  Majoribanks. 

Greene  now  determined  upon  withdrawing  his 
forces  to  the  nearest  point  where  water  was  to  be 
had,  and  set  to  work  making  arrangements  for  a 
renewal  of  the  attack  in  the  course  of  a  day  or  two. 
The  American  loss,  in  killed,  wrounded,  and  missing, 
was  550,  and  that  of  the  enemy  1100,  including  500 
prisoners  in  the  hands  of  General  Greene. 

On  the  following  night  the  enemy  retreated,  after 
destroying  a  very  considerable  portion  of  their  stores 
and  leaving  their  wounded  on  the  field.  In  that  re 
treat  they  were  harassed  by  Marion  and  Lee,  who 
took  a  number  of  prisoners. 


134 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


LORD    OOEKWALLI8. 


SIEGE   OF  YORKTOWN. 

THE  result  of  the  masterly  operations  of  General 
Greene,  aided  by  the  partisan  warfare  of  Marion, 
Su inter,  and  Pickens,  in  the  South,  was  to  drive 
Cornwallis  into  Virginia;  and  his  whole  force  was 
concentrated  at  Yorktown,  where,  with  the  design 
of  establishing  a  strong  place  of  arms,  he  was 
engaged  in  erecting  fortifications  tenable  against  any 
force  which  was  likely  to  be  brought  against  them. 

His  situation  there,  the  arrival  of  a  reinforcement 
of  3000  Germans  from  Europe  at  New  York,  the 
superior  strength  of  that  garrison,  the  failure  of  the 
States  in  filling  up  their  battalions  and  embodying 
their  militia,  and  especially  recent  intelligence  from 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  135 

Count  De  Grasse  that  his  destination  was  fixed  for 
the  Chesapeake,  concurred,  about  the  middle  of  August, 
to  make  a  total  change  in  the  plan  of  the  campaign. 

The  appearance  of  an  intention  to  attack  New 
York  was  nevertheless  kept  up.  While  this  decep 
tion  was  played  off,  the  allied  army  crossed  the 
North  River,  August  24,  and  passed  on,  by  the 
way  of  Philadelphia,  through  the  intermediate  coun 
try,  to  Yorktown.  An  attempt  to  reduce  the  Bri 
tish  force  in  Virginia  promised  success  with  more 
expedition,  and  to  secure  an  object  of  nearly  equal 
importance  to  the  reduction  of  New  York. 

While  the  attack  of  New  York  was  in  serious  con 
templation,  a  letter  from  General  Washington,  de 
tailing  the  particulars  of  the  intended  operations  of 
the  campaign,  being  intercepted,  fell  into  the  hands 
of  Sir  Henry  Clinton.  After  the  plan  was  changed, 
the  royal  commander  was  so  much  influenced  by  the 
intelligence  contained  in  the  intercepted  letter  that 
he  believed  every  movement  towards  Virginia  to  be 
a  feint  calculated  to  draw  off  his  attention  from  the 
defence  of  New  York.  Under  the  influence  of  this 
opinion,  he  bent  his  whole  force  to  strengthen  that 
post,  and  suffered  the  French  and  American  armies 
to  pass  him  without  any  molestation.  When  the 
best  opportunity  of  striking  at  them  had  elapsed, 
then,  for  the  first  time,  he  was  brought  to  believe 
that  the  allies  had  fixed  on  Virginia  for  the  theatre 
of  their  combined  operations.  As  truth  may  be 
made  to  answer  the  purposes  of  deception,  so  no 
feint  of  attacking  New  York  could  have  been  more 
successful  than  the  real  intention. 

In  the  latter  end  of  August,  1781,  the  American 


136  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

army  began  their  march  to  Virginia  from  the  neigh 
borhood  of  New  York.  Washington  had  advanced 
as  far  as  Chester  before  he  received  information  of 
the  arrival  of  De  Grasse.  The  French  troops  marched 
at  the  same  time  and  for  the  same  place.  In  the 
course  of  this  summer  they  passed  through  all  the 
extensive  settlements  which  lie  between  Newport 


SIR     IIKNRY     CLINTON. 


and  Yorktown.  It  seldom,  if  ever,  happened  be 
fore,  that  an  army  led  through  a  foreign  country 
at  so  great  a  distance  from  their  own,  among  a 
people  of  different  principles,  customs,  language,  and 
religion,  behaved  with  so  much  regularity.  In  their 
march  to  Yorktown  they  had  to  pass  through  five 
hundred  miles  of  a  country  abounding  in  fruit,  and 
at  a  time  when  the  -most  delicious  productions  of 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  13? 

nature,  growing  on  and  near  the  public  highways, 
presented  both  opportunity  and  temptation  to  gratify 
their  appetites.  Yet,  so  complete  was  their  disci 
pline,  that,  in  this  long  march,  scarce  an  instance 
could  be  produced  of  a  peach  or  an  apple  being 
taken  without  the  consent  of  the  inhabitants. 
Washington  and  Rochambeau  reached  Williamsburg 
on  the  14th  of  September.  They,  with  Generals 
Chastellux,  Du  Portail,  and  Knox,  visited  Count  De 
Grasse  on  board  his  ship,  the  Ville  de  Paris,  and 
agreed  on  a  plan  of  operations. 

The  count  afterwards  wrote  to  Washington  that, 
in  case  a  British  fleet  appeared,  "he  conceived  he 
ought  to  go  out  and  meet  them  at  sea,  instead  of 
risking  an  engagement  in  a  confined  situation." 
This  alarmed  Washington.  He  sent  the  Marquis 
de  la  Fayette,  with  a  letter,  to  dissuade  him  from 
the  dangerous  measure.  This  letter  and  the  per 
suasions  of  the  marquis  had  the  desired  effect. 

.The  combined  forces  proceeded  on  their  way  to 
Yorktown,  partly  by  land  and  partly  down  the 
Chesapeake.  The  whole,  together  with  a  body  of 
Virginia  militia  under  the  command  of  General 
Nelson,  amounting  in  the  aggregate  to  12,000  men, 
rendezvoused  at  Williamsburg  on  the  25th  of  Sep 
tember,  and,  in  five  days  afterwards,  moved  down 
to  the  investiture  of  Yorktown.  The  French  fleet 
at  the  same  time  moved  to  the  mouth  of  York  River, 
and  took  a  position  calculated  to  prevent  Lord 
Cornwallis  either  from  retreating  or  receiving  succor 
by  water.  Previously  to  the  march  from  Williams 
burg  to  Yorktown,  Washington  published,  in  general 
orders,  as  follows : — "  If  the  enemy  should  be  tempted 


138  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

to  meet  the  army  on  its  march,  the  general  particu 
larly  enjoins  the  troops  to  place  their  principal  re 
liance  on  the  bayonet,  that  they  may  prove  the 
vanity  of  the  boast  which  the  British  make  of  their 
peculiar  prowess  in  deciding  battles  with  that 
weapon." 

The  combined  army  halted  in  the  evening,  about 
two  miles  from  Yorktown,  and  lay  on  their  arms  all 
night.  On  the  next  day,  Colonel  Scammell,  an 
officer  of  uncommon  merit  and  of  the  most  amiable 
manners,  in  approaching  the  outer  works  of  the 
British  was  mortally  wounded  and  taken  prisoner. 
About  this  time  Cornwallis  received  a  letter  from 
Sir  Henry  Clinton,  announcing  the  arrival  of  Admiral 
Digby,  with  three  ships-of-the-line  from  Europe,  and 
the  determination  of  the  general  and  flag-officers 
in  New  York  to  embark  5000  men  in  a  fleet,  which 
would  probably  sail  on  the  5th  of  October ;  that  this 
fleet  consisted  of  twenty-three  sail-of-the-line ;  and 
that  joint  exertions  of  the  navy  and  army  would  Jbe 
made  for  his  relief.  On  the  night  after  the  receipt 
of  this  intelligence,  Cornwallis  quitted  his  outward 
position  and  retired  to  one  more  inward. 

The  works  erected  for  the  security  of  Yorktown 
on  the  right  were  redoubts  and  batteries,  with  a  line 
of  stockade  in  the  rear.  A  marshy  ravine  lay  in 
front  of  the  right,  over  which  was  placed  a  large  re 
doubt.  The  morass  extended  along  the  centre, 
which  was  defended  by  a  line  of  stockade  and  by 
batteries.  On  the  left  of  the  centre  was  a  horn- 
work,  with  a  ditch,  a  row  of  fraise,  and  an  abatis. 
Two  redoubts  were  advanced  before  the  left.  The 
combined  forces  advanced  and  took  possession  of  the 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  139 

ground  from  which  the  British  had  retired.  About 
this  time  the  legion  cavalry  and  mounted  infantry 
passed  over  the  river  to  Gloucester.  General  De 
Choisy  invested  the  British  post  on  that  side  so  fully 
as  to  cut  off  all  communication  between  it  and  the 
country.  In  the  mean  time  the  royal  army  was 
straining  every  nerve  to  strengthen  their  works; 
and  their  artillery  was  constantly  employed  in  im 
peding  the  operations  of  the  combined  army.  On 
the  9th  and  10th  of  October  the  French  and  Ame 
ricans  opened  their  batteries.  They  kept  up  a  brisk 
and  well-directed  fire  from  heavy  cannon,  mortars, 
and  howitzers.  The  shells  of  the  besiegers  reached 
the  ships  in  the  harbor.  The  Charon,  of  forty-four 
guns,  and  a  transport-ship,  were  burned.  On  the 
10th,  a  messenger  arrived  with  a  despatch  from  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  to  Cornwallis,  dated  on  the  30th  of 
September,  which  stated  various  circumstances 
tending  to  lessen  the  probability  of  relief  being 
afforded  by  a  direct  movement  from  New  York. 

The  besiegers  commenced  their  second  parallel, 
October  11,  two  hundred  yards  from  the  works  of 
the  besieged.  Two  redoubts  advanced  on  the  left 
of  the  British  greatly  impeded  the  progress  of  the 
combined  armies.  It  was  therefore  proposed  to 
carry  them  by  storm.  To  excite  a  spirit  of  emula 
tion,  the  reduction  of  the  one  was  committed  to  the 
French,  of  the  other  to  the  Americans.  The  latter, 
led  by  Colonels  Hamilton  and  Laurens,  marched  to 
the  assault  with  unloaded  muskets.  Having  passed 
the  abatis  and  palisades,  they  attacked  on  all  sides 
and  carried  the  redoubt,  in  a  few  minutes,  with  the 
loss  of  9  killed  and  33  wounded.  "  Incapable  of 


140  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

imitating  examples  of  barbarity,  and  forgetting  re 
cent  provocations,  they  spared  every  man  who  ceased 
to  resist."  Eight  of  the  British  were  killed,  120 
captured,  and  a  few  escaped.  The  French  were 
equally  successful  on  their  part.  They  carried  the 
redoubt  assigned  to  them  with  rapidity  ;  but,  being 
opposed  by  a  greater  number  of  men,  their  loss 
amounted  to  nearly  100  men.  These  two  redoubts 
were  included  in  the  second  parallel,  and  facilitated 
the  subsequent  operations  of  the  besiegers. 

The  British  could  not  with  propriety  risk  repeated 
sallies.  One  was  projected  at  this  time,  October  16, 
with  400  men,  commanded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Abercrombie.  He  proceeded  so  far  as  to  force  two 
redoubts  and  to  spike  eleven  pieces  of  cannon. 
Though  the  officers  and  soldiers  displayed  great 
bravery  in  this  enterprise,  yet  their  success  pro 
duced  no  essential  advantage.  The  cannon  were 
soon  unspiked  and  rendered  fit  for  service. 

By  this  time  the  batteries  of  the  besiegers  were 
covered  with  nearly  a  hundred  pieces  of  heavy  ord 
nance,  and  the  works  of  the  besieged  were  so 
damaged  that  they  could  scarcely  show  a  single 
gun.  Lord  Cornwallis  had  now  no  hope  left  but  in 
offering  terms  of  capitulation  or  attempting  an 
escape.  He  determined  on  the  latter.  Boats  were 
prepared  to  receive  the  troops  in  the  night,  and  to 
transport  them  to  Gloucester  Point.  After  one 
whole  embarkation  had  crossed,  a  violent  storm  of 
wind  and  rain  dispersed  the  boats  and  frustrated 
the  whole  scheme.  The  royal  army,  thus  weakened 
by  division,  was  exposed  to  increased  danger. 

Orders  were  sent  to  those  who  had  passed  to  re- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  141 

cross  the  river  to  Yorktown.  With  the  failure  of 
this  scheme  the  last  hope  of  the  British  army  ex 
pired.  Longer  resistance  could  answer  no  good 
purpose,  and  might  occasion  the  loss  of  many 
valuable  lives.  Lord  Cornwallis,  therefore,  wrote  a 


SURRENDER    OF     CORNWALLIS. 


letter  to  Washington,  requesting  a  cessation  of  arms 
for  twenty-four  hours  and  that  commissioners  might 
be  appointed  to  digest  articles  of  capitulation.  While 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Laurens,  the  officer  employed  by 
Washington  on  this  occasion,  was  discussing  these 
articles,  his  father  was  closely  confined  in  the  Tower 
of  London,  of  which  Cornwallis  was  constable.  By 


142  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

this  singular  combination  of  circumstances,  his  lord 
ship  became  a  prisoner  through  the  agency  of  the 
son  of  his  own  prisoner. 

The  posts  of  York  and  Gloucester  were  surren 
dered  on  the  19th  of  October  by  a  capitulation  the 
principal  articles  of  which  were  as  follows  : — The 
troops  to  be  prisoners  of  war  to  Congress  and  the 
naval  force  to  France ;  the  officers  to  retain  their  side- 
arms  and  private  property  of  every  kind ;  but  all 
property,  obviously  belonging  to  inhabitants  of  the 
United  States,  to  be  subject  to  be  reclaimed;  the 
soldiers  to  be  kept  in  Virginia,  Maryland,  and  Penn 
sylvania,  and  to  be  supplied  with  the  same  rations 
as  were  allowed  to  soldiers  in  the  service  of  Con 
gress  ;  a  proportion  of  the  officers  to  march  into  the 
country  with  the  prisoners ;  the  rest  to  be  allowed  to 
proceed  on  parole  to  Europe,  to  New  York,  or  to 
any  other  American  maritime  post  in  possession  of 
the  British.  The  honor  of  marching  out  with  colors 
flying,  which  had  been  refused  to  General  Lincoln 
on  his  giving  up  Charleston,  was  now  refused  to 
Cornwallis;  and  General  Lincoln  was  appointed  to 
receive  the  submission  of  the  royal  army  at  York- 
town  precisely  in  the  same  way  in  which  his  own  had 
been  conducted  about  eighteen  months  before.  Corn 
wallis  endeavored  to  obtain  permission  for  the  British 
and  German  troops  to  return  to  their  respective 
countries,  under  no  other  restrictions  than  an  en 
gagement  not  to  serve  against  France  or  America. 
He  also  tried  to  obtain  an  indemnity  for  those  of 
the  inhabitants  who  had  joined  him ;  but  he  was 
obliged  to  recede  from  the  former,  and  also  to  con 
sent  that  the  loyalists  in  his  camp  should  be  given 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  143 

up  to  the  unconditional  mercy  of  their  countrymen. 
His  lordship,  nevertheless,  obtained  permission  for 
the  Bonetta  sloop-of-war  to  pass  unexamined  to 
New  York.  This  gave  an  opportunity  of  screening 
such  of  them  as  were  most  obnoxious  to  the  Ame 
ricans. 

The  regular  troops  of  France  and  America  em 
ployed  in  this  siege  consisted  of  about  7000  of  the 
former  and  5500  of  the  latter;  and  they  were  as 
sisted  by  about  4000  militia.  On  the  part  of  the 
combined  army  about  300  were  killed  or  wounded ; 
on  the  part  of  the  British  about  500 ;  and  70  were 
taken  in  the  twro  redoubts,  which  had  been  carried 
by  assault.  The  troops  of  every  kind  that  surren 
dered  prisoners  of  war  exceeded  7000  men ;  but  so 
great  was  the  number  of  sick  and  wounded  that 
there  were  only  3800  capable  of  bearing  arms. 

The  French  and  American  engineers  and  artillery 
merited  and  received  the  highest  applause.  Briga 
diers-General  Du  Portail  and  Knox  were  both  pro 
moted  to  the  rank  of  major-generals,  on  account  of 
their  meritorious  services.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Gou- 
vion  and  Captain  Rochefontaine,  of  the  corps  of  en 
gineers,  respectively  received  brevets, — the  former  to 
the  rank  of  colonel  and  the  latter  to  the  rank  of 
major. 

Congress  honored  Washington,  Rochambeau,  De- 
Grasse,  and-  the  officers  of  the  different  corps  and 
the  men  under  them,  with  thanks  for  their  services 
in  the  capture  of  Cornwallis.  The  whole  project 
was  conceived  with  profound  wisdom,  and  the  inci- 
dfents  of  it  had  been  combined  with  singular  pro 
priety.  It  is  not,  therefore,  wonderful  that  from  the 


144  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

remarkable  coincidence  in  all  its  parts  it  was  crowned 
with  unvaried  success. 

A  British  fleet  and  an  army  of  7000  men,  destined 
for  the  relief  of  Cornwallis,  arrived  off  the  Chesa 
peake  on  the  24th  of  October ;  but,  on  receiving 
advice  of  his  lordship's  surrender,  they  returned  to 
Sandy  Hook  and  New  York. 

Such  was  the  fate  of  that  general  from  whose 
gallantry  and  previous  successes  the  speedy  con 
quest  of  the  Southern  States  had  been  so  confidently 
expected.  No  event  during  the  war  bade  fairer  for 
oversetting  the  independence  of  at  least  a  part  of 
the  confederacy  than  his  complete  victory  near  Cain- 
den  ;  but,  by  the  consequences  of  that  action,  his 
lordship  became  the  occasion  of  rendering  that  a 
revolution  which,  from  his  previous  success,  was  in 
danger  of  terminating  as  a  rebellion.  The  loss  of 
his  army  may  be  considered  as  the  closing  scene  of 
the  Continental  war  in  North  America. 


NAVAL  EXPLOITS. 


145 


CAPTURE  OF  THE  GENERAL  MONK. 

THE  Hyder  Ally,  of  sixteen  guns,  was  fitted  out 
by  the  State  authorities  of  Pennsylvania,  to  repress 
the  enemy's  privateers,  with  which  Delaware  River 
abounded.  She  was  commanded  by  Lieutenant 
Joshua  Barney. 

On  the  8th  of  April,  1782,  he  entered  upon  his 
destined  service,  which  was  to  convoy  a  fleet  of  mer 
chantmen  to  the  capes,  and  protect  them  from  the 
"refugee  boats"  with  which  the  river  abounded. 
While  waiting  at  the  capes,  he  was  assailed  by  two 
ships  and  a  brig  belonging  to  the  enemy,  who,  find 
ing  him  unsupported,  commenced  a  furious  attack, 

10 


146  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

which  he  sustained  with  great  coolness  while  his 
convoy  were  safely  retiring  up  the  river.  The  brig 
came  up  first,  and  gave  him  a  broadside  as  she  was 
passing,  but  kept  her  course  up  the  bay  after  the 
convoy,  while  Barney  waited  for  the  ship,  which 
was  coming  up  rapidly.  Having  approached  within 
pistol-shot,  the  Hyder  Ally  poured  a  broadside  into 
her,  which  somewhat  staggered  the  enemy,  who 
thought  Barney  would  "strike  his  colors."  The 
enemy  seemed  disposed  to  board,  and  was  ranging 
alongside  of  him,  when  he  ordered  the  quarter 
master,  in  a  loud  voice,  to  "port  the  helm!"  hav 
ing  previously  given  him  secret  instructions  to  put 
the  helm  hard  a-starboard,  which  latter  order  was 
obeyed.  By  this  manoeuvre  the  enemy's  jib-boom 
caught  in  the  forerigging  of  the  Hyder  Ally,  thus 
giving  her  a  raking  position,  which  Captain  Barney 
knew  how  to  improve.  The  firing  on  both  sides 
was  tremendous  :  an  idea  of  it  may  be  obtained  from 
the  fact  that  more  than  twenty  broadsides  were 
fired  in  tAventy-six  minutes !  In  the  mizzenstaysail 
of  the  General  Monk  there  were  afterwards  counted 
three  hundred  and  sixty-five  shot-holes.  During 
the  whole  of  this  short  but  glorious  battle,  Captain 
Barney  was  stationed  upon  the  quarter-deck,  ex 
posed  to  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  musketry,  which 
was  excessively  annoying  and  began  to  be  felt  by 
the  men,  insomuch  that  Captain  Barney  ordered  a 
body  of  riflemen  whom  he  had  on  board  to  direct 
their  fire  into  the  enemy's  top,  which  immediately 
had  the  desired  effect. 

The  capture  of  the  General  Monk  was  one  of  the 
most  brilliant  achievements  recorded  in  naval  his- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  147 

tory.  The  General  Monk  mounted  eighteen  guns 
and  had  136  men,  and  lost  20  men  killed  and  33 
wounded.  The  Hyder  Ally  had  sixteen  guns  and 
110  men  and  lost  4  men  killed,  and  11  wounded. 

All  the  officers  of  the  General  Monk  were  wound 
ed  except  one.  The  captain  himself  was  severely 
wounded.  The  brig  which  accompanied  the  enemy 
ran  ashore  to  avoid  capture.  Captain  Barney  now 
followed  his  convoy  up  to  Philadelphia.  After  a 
short  visit  to  his  family,  he  returned  to  his  com 
mand,  where  he  soon  captured  the  "Hook-'em- 
snivy," — a  refugee  schooner  which  had  done  a  great 
deal  of  mischief  on  the  Delaware. 

These  captures  struck  such  terror  among  the  pri 
vateers  that  they  began  to  disperse  to  more  pro 
fitable  grounds.  In  consequence  of  these  glorious 
actions,  Captain  Barney  was  presented  with  a  gold- 
hilted  sword,  in  the  name  of  the  State. 


148 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


SIGNING    OF    "SHE    TREATY    OF    PARIS. 


.     CLOSE   OF   THE   REVOLUTIONARY  WAR. 

TOWARDS  the  close  of  the  year  1782,  the  South 
Carolina — a  frigate  hired,  by  the  State  whose  name 
she  bore,  of  the  Duke  of  Luxembourg — was  captured 
by  a  force  of  three  large  armed  ships,  purposely  sent 
to  watch  her  motions.  This  vessel,  during  the  years 
1781  and  '82,  had  been  unusually  fortunate  in  her 
cruises  in  the  narrow  seas  and  the  West  Indies. 
The  American  privateers  were  also  very  successful ; 
and  the  English  actually  fitted  out  privateers  at  the 
close  of  the  war  for  the  express  purpose  of  recap 
turing  American  prizes. 

The  English  Admiral  Rodney  also  succeeded  in 
capturing  the  French  fleet  under  the  Count  de 
Grasse,  who  desperately  defended  his  vessel,  the 
Ville  de  Paris,  until  himself  and  two  others  were 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  149 

the  only  men  left  standing  on  the  upper  deck,  when 
he  consented  to  strike.  This  vessel  had  been  pre 
sented  to  the  King  of  France,  at  the  time  of  the 
Old  French  War,  by  the  citizens  of  Paris,  and  had 
cost  four  millions  of  livres.  It  was  the  pride  of  the 
French  navy.  The  English  also  captured  thirty- 
six  chests  of  money  and  a  large  train  of  artillery, 
which  was  to  have  been  used  in  an  attack  on  Ja 
maica.  All  the  settlements  on  the  shores  of  Hud 
son's  Bay  were  destroyed  by  the  French  Admiral 
La  Pe rouse,  who  took  and  destroyed  property  to  the 
amount  of  five  hundred  thousand  pounds. 

In  December,  1782,  soon  after  going  into  winter 
quarters,  the  officers  of  the  army  sent  a  deputation 
to  Congress,  with  a  petition  and  memorial  upon  the 
subject  of  their  arrearages  of  pay.  In  October,  1780, 
Congress  had  passed  an  act,  granting  the  officers 
half-pay  for  life,  after  the  close  of  the  war;  but  nine 
States  had  omitted  to  ratify  this  grant,  and  it  was 
in  danger  of  becoming  a  dead  letter.  The  officers, 
many  of  whom  had  exhausted  their  private  fortunes 
in  the  service  of  the  country,  petitioned  that  the 
half-pay  for  life  should  be  changed  to  full  pay  for 
five  years,  and  that  the  arrearages  should  be  paid. 
This  reasonable  request  was  not  immediately  com 
plied  with  by  Congress,  and  indications  were  appa 
rent,  in  the  camp  at  Newburg,  of  an  approaching 
appeal  to  the  fears  of  Congress. 

Fortunately,  Washington  was  present ;  and, 
though  he  knew  the  justice  of  their  claims,  he 
was  aware  that  duty  to  the  country  required  the 
prevention  of  rash  and  disorderly  measures  for  re 
dress.  He  assembled  them  together,  and  calmly 


150  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

addressed  them  in  his  usual  dispassionate  and  sen 
sible  manner;  and  they  were  induced  to  wait  still 
longer  for  the  compliance  of  Congress  with  their 
demands.  Washington  then  addressed  a  letter  to 
Congress,  in  which  he  so  strongly  enforced  the 
claims  of  the  officers  that  their  request  was  granted. 

Soon  after,  a  letter  from  La  Fayette  announced  a 
general  peace ;  and  early  in  April,  an  authentic  copy 
of  the  declaration  of  the  exchange  of  the  preliminary 
articles  between  France  and  England  being  received, 
peace  was  proclaimed  to  the  army,  by  the  commander- 
in-chief,  on  the  19th  of  that  month. 

This,  the  reader  will  recollect,  was  precisely  eight 
years  from  the  shedding  of  the  first  blood  in  the 
Revolution  at  Lexington.  Large  arrears  were  due 
to  the  army,  and  many  apprehended  that  an  attempt 
to  disband  them  without  pay  would  occasion  a  re 
volt.  The  treasury  was  not  only  empty,  but  the 
Superintendent  of  Finances  had  already  expended 
more  than  his  receipts  justified;  and,  before  he  could 
issue  his  notes  for  the  payment  of  three  months' 
wages,  Congress  had  granted  unlimited  furloughs  to 
the  officers  and  privates  engaged  for  the  war.  Much 
distress  was  felt  by  the  officers  at  the  prospect  of 
being  turned  penniless  on  the  world ;  but  Washing 
ton  succeeded  in  pacifying  them.  In  October,  a 
proclamation  was  issued  by  Congress,  declaring  that 
all  soldiers  who  had  been  engaged  during  the  war 
were  to  be  discharged  on  the  3d  of  December.  Whilst 
the  old  troops  endeavored  to  submit  patiently  to 
the  will  of  Congress,  several  of  the  new  levies  pro 
ceeded  to  express,  in  an  open  and  decided  manner, 
their  discontent.  About  eighty  of  this  class,  sta- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  151 

tioned  at  Lancaster,  inarched  in  a  body  to  Philadel 
phia,  and,  after  being  joined  by  several  others,  they 
took  up  their  march  to  the  State-House,  where  Con 
gress  and  the  Executive  Council  were  assembled,  and, 
having  posted  sentinels  with  fixed  bayonets  at  the 
doors,  they  sent  in  a  message,  threatening  vengeance 
if  their  requisitions  were  not  complied  with  in  twenty 
minutes. 

After  being  confined  three  hours,  the  members  of 
Congress  separated,  to  reassemble  at  Princeton,  and 
Washington  immediately  sent  a  strong  detachment 
to  Philadelphia ;  but  the  tumult  had  subsided  before 
it  reached  the  city.  New  York  was  soon  after  eva 
cuated,  and  the  Americans  took  possession  of  it  No 
vember  25.  Washington  entered  it  on  horseback, 
attended  by  Governor  Clinton  and  a  large  procession 
of  civil  and  military  officers  and  citizens.  On  the 
4th  of  December  he  took  leave  of  the  officers  at 
Francis's  Tavern,  after  which  they  escorted  him  to 
White  Hall,  where  a  barge  carried  him  to  Powles 
Hook.  He  proceeded  to  Annapolis,  where  Congress 
was  in  session,  where,  in  public  audience,  he  re 
signed  his  commission  as  Commander-in-chief  of  the 
American  armies  on  the  23d  of  December,  after  which 
he  retired  to  his  private  seat  at  Mount  Ve'rnon. 

Meanwhile,  the  different  courts  of  Europe,  had  ac 
knowledged  the  independence  of  the  United  States, — 
Sweden  and  Denmark  in  February,  Spain  in  March, 
and  Russia  in  July.  The  final  treaty  of  peace  had 
been  signed  at  Paris  on  the  3d  day  of  September, 
1783,  by  David  Hartley,  on  the  part  of  George  III., 
and  by  John  Adams,  Benjamin  Franklin,  and  John 
Jay,  on  the  part  of  the  United  States. 


152  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

By  the  first  article  of  this  treaty  his  Britannic 
majesty  acknowledges  the  United  States  to  be  free, 
sovereign,  and  independent  states, — that  he  treats 
with  them  as  such,  and  relinquishes,  for  himself  and 
his  heirs,  all  claims  to  the  government,  propriety, 
and  territorial  rights  of  the  same.  The  second 
article  defines  the  boundaries  of  the  States;  and  the 
third  secures  to  them  the  right  of  fishing  on  the 
Grand  Bank  and  other  banks  of  Newfoundland,  and 
other  places  in  the  possession  of  the  British,  formerly 
used  by  the  Americans  for  fishing-grounds.  The 
fourth  article  secures  the  payment  to  creditors  the 
debts  heretofore  contracted;  whilst  the  fifth  recom 
mends  to  Congress  the  restitution  of  estates  formerly 
belonging  to  British  subjects,  which  had  been  con 
fiscated.  The  sixth  article  prohibits  any  future 
confiscation.  The  seventh  provides  for  firm  and 
perpetual  peace ;  the  eighth  secures  the  navigation 
of  the  Mississippi  to  both  Englishmen  and  Ameri 
cans.  The  ninth  orders  all  conquests  made  after 
the  treaty  of  peace  to  be  restored ;  the  tenth  pro 
vides  for  the  ratification  of  the  treaty  within  six 
months  from  the  signing  thereof. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


153 


WAYNE'S   VICTORY. 

GENERAL  WAYNE'S  VICTORY  OVER   THE 
INDIANS. 

DURING  Washington's  administration  the  Indians 
on  the  northwestern  border  were  hostile.  In  Octo 
ber,  1790,  General  Harmer,  being  sent  against  them 
with  a  small  force,  was  defeated.  In  1791,  General 
St.  Clair,  with  a  force  of  2000  men,  suffered  the  same 
disaster. 

General  St.  Clair  having  resigned  his  office  of 
Governor  of  the  Northwestern  Territory,  he  was 
succeeded  by  General  Wayne.  In  August,  1794, 
he  marched,  at  the  head  of  3000  men,  to  attack  the 
Indians  on  the  Miami,  and  on  the  18th  of  that 
month  arrived  at  the  rapids  and  made  an  inef 
fectual  effort  to  negotiate  a  peace  with  the  Indians; 
but  they,  to  the  number  of  2000.  being  advantage- 


154  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

ously  posted  behind  a  thick  wood  and  near  a  British 
fort,  treated  the  proposition  with  contempt,  and 
formed  their  line,  stretching  from  the  river  towards 
the  west  for  about  two  miles.  On  the  morning  of 
the  20th  the  American  army  advanced  in  two  co 
lumns, — the  first  with  orders  from  General  Wayne 
to  move  forward  with  trailed  arms  and  rouse  the 
enemy  from  his  covert;  and  then,  and  not  till  then, 
fire,  and  press  the  fugitives  so  closely  that  they 
would  find  it  impossible  to  reload  their  guns  after 
the  first  discharge.  On  discovering  the  immense 
length  of  the  enemy's  front,  and  perceiving  their 
design  of  turning  his  left  flank,  the  general  ordered 
the  second  line  to  support  the  first,  and  the  cavalry, 
under  Captain  Campbell,  to  force  their  way  between 
the  Indians  and  the  river  and  attack  them  on  their 
left  flank ;  while  General  Scott,  at  the  head  of  the 
mounted  volunteers,  made  a  considerable  circuit, 
and  attacked  them  on  the  right.  These  orders  were 
executed  with  such  promptitude,  and  so  completely 
was  the  enemy's  line  broken  by  the  first  charge  of 
the  infantry,  that  the  whole  body  was  soon  put  to 
flight ;  and  in  less  than  one  hour  from  the  com 
mencement  of  the  action  they  were  driven  more 
than  two  miles,  through  thick  woods,  and  within 
half  a  mile  of  the  British  fort,  where  the  pursuit 
terminated. 

The  ensuing  three  days  were  spent  by  General 
Wayne  in  burning  and  destroying  the  houses  and 
the  cornfields  on  the  Miami  and  around  the  fort, 
the  commandant  of  which  did  not  interfere  in  any 
way  with  the  operations  of  either  army.  On  the 
28th  he  returned  to  the  fort  on  the  Au  Glaize;  but, 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  155 

the  hostility  of  the  Indians  still  continuing,  he  pro 
ceeded  to  lay  waste  their  whole  territory,  and  the 
next  year  concluded  a  treaty  with  them,  by  which 
peace  was  established  on  terms  as  satisfactory  and 
beneficial  to  the  Indians  as  to  the  whites,  and  which, 
by  giving  security  to  the  northwestern  frontier,  soon 
occasioned  an  increase  in  the  population  of  that 
delightful  region. 


156 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


CAPTURE   OF   L'INSURGENTE. 

CAPTURE   OF   L'INSURGENTE. 

THE  quasi  war,  as  it  is  called,  between  this  coun 
try  and  France,  under  the  Directory,  having  com 
menced,  Commodore  Truxtun,  with  a  squadron 
under  his  command,  was  ordered  to  protect  the 
commerce  of  the  United  States  in  the  West  Indies. 
It  was  while  on  this  service  that  his  brightest  laurels 
were  won,  by  the  capture  of  two  French  frigates, 
each  of  superior  force  to  his  own  ship. 

On  the  9th  of  February,  the  Constellation,  being 
alone  cruising  on  her  prescribed  ground,  the  island 
of  Nevis  bearing  W.  S.  W.  and  distant  five  leagues, 
made  a  large  ship  on  the  southern  board.  The 
stranger,  being  approached  by  the  Constellation, 
showed  the  American  colors,  when  the  private  sig 
nals  were  shown.  The  chase  being  unable  to  an- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  157 

swer,  further  disguise  was  abandoned,  and,  hoisting 
the  French  ensign,  he  fired  a  gun  to.windward  by 
way  of  challenge,  and  gallantly  awaited  the  contest. 
This  being  the  first  time  since  the  Revolutionary  war 
that  an  American  ship  had  encountered  an  enemy 
in  any  manner  which  promised  a  contest,  the  officers 
and  men  were  eager  for  the  engagement ;  and  the 
enemy  were  not  inclined  to  avoid  it.  The  ships  near- 
ed,  until  the  Constellation,  after  having  been  thrice 
hailed,  opened  a  fire  upon  her  antagonist.  A  fierce 
cannonade  ensued,  while  the  American  was  drawing 
ahead.  She  suffered  much  in  her  sails  and  rigging, 
and  the  fore-topmast  was  nearly  cut  off  by  a  shot. 
This  was,  in  some  degree,  remedied  by  Mr.  David 
Porter,  a  midshipman,  who  being  unable  to  com 
municate  the  circumstance  to  others,  himself  cut 
the  stoppers  and  lowered  the  yard,  and  thus  pre 
vented  the  fkli  of  the  mast  with  its  rigging.  In  the 
mean  time,  their  superior  gunnery  gave  the  action  a 
turn  in  favor  of  the  Americans,  who  were  at  last 
enabled  to  decide  the  contest  by  two  or  three  raking 
broadsides,  after  a  combat  of  an  hour,  when  the 
American  wore  round  and  would  again  have  raked 
her  with  all  their  guns,  had  she  not  prudently 
struck. 

The  prize  was  the  French  frigate  L'Insurgente, — 
one  of  the  fastest  vessels  in  the  world.  She  was 
greatly  damaged,  and  had  lost  in  all  70  men.  The 
Constellation  also  was  much  damaged  in  her  rigging, 
but  lost  only  three  men,  wounded,  one  of  whom, 
Mr.  James  McDonough,  had  his  foot  shot  off. 

The  Insurgente  carried  forty  guns  and  409  men; 
the  American  vessel  thirty-eight  guns  and  309  men. 


158  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

Tt  was  half-past  three  in  the  afternoon  when  the 
Insurgente  struck,  and  Mr.  Rodgers,  the  first  lieu 
tenant  of  the  Constellation,  was  sent,  together  with 
Mr.  Porter  and  eleven  men,  to  take  possession  and 
have  the  prisoners  removed ;  but,  ere  this  could  be 
effected,  the  darkness  and  a  rise  of  wind  separated 
the  ships. 

The  situation  of  Rodgers  at  this  period  was  un 
pleasant  in  the  extreme.  No  handcuffs  were  to  be 
found,  and  the  prisoners  seemed  disposed  to  rebel. 
Fortunately,  Rodgers  was  well  calculated  to  act 
with  decision  in  such  circumstances,  and  Porter  and 
the  men  equally  prompt  in  executing  his  orders. 
The  prisoners  were  sent  into  the  lower  hold,  and 
a  sentinel  stationed  at  each  hatchway,  with  orders 
to  shoot  any  one  who  should  attempt  to  come  upon 
deck  without  orders.  Thus  he  was  obliged  to  spend 
three  days,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  arrived 
at  St.  Kitts,  where  the  Constellation  had  already 
arrived. 

On  the  1st  of  February,  1800,  the  Constellation 
came  in  sight  of  a  strange  sail  off  the  coast  of  Gau- 
daloupe.  Thinking  her  to  be  an  English  merchant 
man,  Truxtun  hoisted  the  English  flag,  in  order 
to  be  hailed  by  her.  This  was  disregarded,  and 
sail  made  in  pursuit,  when  the  stranger  was  dis 
covered  to  be  a  French  man-of-war.  The  English 
flag  was  lowered  and  all  made  ready  for  a  desperate 
struggle.  The  enemy's  ship  was  ascertained  to 
carry  fifty-two  guns;  but,  the  vessel  being  very 
deep,  Truxtun  was  not  discouraged  by  her  superior 
force,  but  still  gave  chase.  The  wind  being  light 
during  the  afternoon,  it  was  not  until  evening,  at 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  159 

eight  o'clock,  that  they  came  within  speaking-dis 
tance.  The  ship  then  opened  a  fire  upon  them, 
which  was  returned,  and  kept  up  till  near  one  in 
the  morning,  when  the  French  ship  made  all  sail 
to  escape.  Truxtun  ordered  to  give  chase,  but  was 
informed  that  the  mainmast  had  been  nearly  shot 
away;  and,  as  it  was  found  impossible  to  remedy  it, 
the  chase  was  given  up.  Truxtun  bore  up  for  Ja 
maica,  where  he  arrived  in  safety.  His  antagonist, 
it  was  ascertained  afterwards,  arrived  at  Curacoa 
in  a  very  disabled  condition,  and  reported  a  loss 
of  50  killed  and  110  wrounded.  The  loss  of  the 
Constellation  was  14  killed  and  23  wounded,  of 
whom  11  died. 

The  Constellation,  at  this  time,  carried  twenty 
eighteens  on  her  main-deck,  and  the  quarter-deck 
was  supplied  with  ten  twenty-four-pound  carronades. 
She  numbered  310  men.  The  Vengeance,  the 
French  vessel,  carried  twenty-eight  eighteens,  six 
teen  twelves,  and  eight  forty-two-pound  carronades. 
There  are  various  statements  of  her  crewr, — all  be 
tween  400  and  500  men. 

It  is  certain  that  but  for  the  loss  of  her  mast 
the  Constellation  would  have  brought  the  prize 
into  port;  indeed,  it  is  reported  that  the  Vengeance 
struck  three  times,  but,  the  Americans  continuing 
their  fire,  the  colors  were  hoisted  again. 

Commodore  Truxtun  was  rewarded  for  this  ex 
ploit  by  a  promotion  to  the  command  of  the  Presi 
dent,  forty-four  guns,  and  was  also  presented  by 
Congress  with  a  gold  medal. 


160 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


CAPTAIN     DEOATUR. 


BURNING  OF  THE  PHILADELPHIA. 

AFTER  the  declaration  of  war  with  Tripoli,  whilst 
cruising  off  that  port,  in  1803,  the  Philadelphia,  Cap 
tain  Bainbridge,  saw  a  ship  in-shore,  sailing  westward. 
The  Philadelphia  made  sail  in  chase,  when  the  stran 
ger  hoisted  Tripolitan  colors  and  stood  in-shore.  In 
following  her  the  frigate  unfortunately  ran  on  the 
rocks.  Every  effort  was  immediately  made  to  get 
her  off,  either  by  driving  her  over  them  or  by  back 
ing  her  off;  but  all  was  ineffectual.  The  bow- 
anchors  were  cast  away,  the  water  started  in  the 
hold,  most  of  the  guns  thrown  overboard,  and  the 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  161 

foremast  cut  away.  The  ship  still  ^remained  im 
movable,  and  the  Tripolitan  gunboats  now  came  out 
to  attack  her.  An  unequal  combat  ensued  for  five 
hours,  .when  Bainbridge,  finding  that  he  could 
neither  get  the  vessel  off  nor  defend  her  from  the 
gunboats,  was  compelled  to  haul  down  his  flag. 
The  vessel  was  soon  after  boarded  by  the  Tripoli- 
tans,  who  commenced  a  deliberate  system  of  plunder 
and  robbery,  which  the  Americans  could  not  resist. 
The  captain  and  crew  were  taken  on  shore,  and  the 
officers  were  lodged  under  parole  in  the  house  for 
merly  occupied  by  Mr.  Cathcart.  Notwithstanding 
this  unfortunate  occurrence,  Captain  Bainbridge 
rendered  his  country  nearly  as  efficient  service 
during  his  captivity,  by  his  valuable  suggestions  to 
Commodore  Preble,  as  if  he  had  been  in  his  former 
command. 

After  concluding  the  treaty  with  the  Emperor  of 
Morocco,  Commodore  Preble  sailed  to  Gibraltar,  and 
thence  sent  the  New  York  and  John  Adams  to  the 
United  States.  On  the  12th  of  November  he  de 
clared  Tripoli  to  be  in  a  state  of  blockade,  and  on 
the  24th  he  received  news  of  the  loss  of  the  Phila- 
delphia.  This  news  was  confirmed  at  Malta,  on  the 
27th,  by  a  letter  from  Bainbridge.  On 'the  23d  of 
December,  cruising  off  Tripoli  in  company  with  the 
Enterprise,  he  captured  the  Turkish  ketch  Mastico, 
which  was  afterwards  called  the  Intrepid  and  taken 
into  the  service.  On  the  26th  a  severe  gale  of 
wind  caused  him  to  sail  to  Syracuse,  and  on  the  3d 
of  February,  1804,  the  Siren  and  the  Intrepid 
sailed  for  Tripoli,  with  orders  to  burn  the  Philadel 
phia.  The  Intrepid  carried  four  guns  and  75  men. 

11 


162  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

Owing  to  the  heavy  gales  usual  about  this  season  of 
the  year,  the  16th  had  arrived  before  Decatur  was 
justified  in  making  the  attempt.  The  Siren  having 
taken  the  best  position  to  cover  the  retreat  of  the 
Intrepid,  Decatur  entered  the  harbor  at  7  o'clock, 
p  M.,  and  boarded  and  took  possession  of  the  Phila 
delphia.  At  this  time  all  the  guns  of  the  frigate 
were  mounted  and  charged,  and  she  lay  within  half- 
gunshot  of  the  bashaw's  castle  and  his  principal 
battery.  Two  Tripolitan  cruisers  were  lying  within 
two  cables'-length,  on  the  starboard  quarter,  and 
several  gunboats  within  half-gunshot  on  the  star 
board  bow,  and  all  the  batteries  on  shore  were 
opened  on  the  assailants.  About  20  of  the  Tripoli- 
tans  on  board  of  the  Philadelphia  were  killed;  a 
large  boatful  escaped,  many  leaped  into  the  water, 
and  one  man  was  wounded  and  made  prisoner. 
After  gaining  possession  of  the  frigate,  Decatur  set 
fire  to  the  storerooms,  gunroom,  cockpit,  and  berth- 
deck,  and  he,  with  his  officers  and  men,  remained 
on  board  until  the  flames  had  issued  from  the  ports 
of  the  gundeck,  and  the  hatchways  of  the  spar- 
deck  ;  and  they  did  not  shove  off  the  Intrepid  until 
the  fire  had  spread  to  her  rigging  and  tops.  This 
gallant  achievement  was  effected  without  the  loss  of 
a  man  killed,  and  but  one  slightly  wounded. 

For  his  conduct  on  this  occasion,  Decatur  received 
from  Congress  a  sword  ;  he  was  also  promoted  to  a 
captaincy;  and  the  officers  and  crew  of  the  Intrepid 
received  two  months'  pay  for  their  gallantry. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


1G3 


BOMBARDMENT    OF    TEIPOLL 

BOMBARDMENT   OF   TRIPOLI. 

ON  the  21st  of  July,  1804,  the  American  squadron 
was  collected  off  Tripoli.  It  consisted  of  the  Con 
stitution,  forty-four  twenty-four-pounders ;  Argus, 
eighteen  twenty-four-pounders;  Siren,  eighteen 
eighteen-pounders ;  Vixen,  sixteen  six-pounders ; 
Enterprise,  fourteen  six-pounders ;  six-gunboats, 
carrying  each  one  brass  twenty-six-pounder;  two 
bomb-ketches,  each  carrying  a  thirteen-inch  mortar; 
and  the  Scourge,  a  captured  polacre,  taken  into  the 
service.  The  whole  number  of  men  in  the  fleet 
was  1060.  The  batteries  on  shore  were  judiciously 
constructed,  mounted  one  hundred  and  fifteen  pieces 
of  heavy  cannon,  and  were  defended  by  25,000  Arabs 
and  Turks ;  the  harbor  was  protected  by  nineteen 


164  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

gunboats,  two  galleys,  two  schooners  of  eight  guna 
each,  and  a  brig  of  ten  guns. 

The  unfavorable  weather  prevented  an  attack 
until  the  3d  of  August,  when,  says  Commodore  Preble, 
in  his  despatches,  "At  noon  we  were  between  two 
and  three  miles  from  the  batteries,  which  were  all 
manned.  At  half-past  twelve  I  wore  off-shore,  and 
made  the  signal  to  come  within  hail,  when  I  com 
municated  to  each  of  the  commanders  my  intention 
of  attacking  the  enemy's  shipping  and  batteries. 
The  boats  were  immediately  manned,  and  prepared 
to  cast  off  in  two  divisions  of  three  each, — Captain 
Somers,  Lieutenant  James  Decatur,  and  Lieutenant 
Blake,  commanding  the  three  first  respectively, 
Captain  Stephen  Decatur,  Lieutenants  Bainbridge 
and  Trippe,  the  second  division." 

The  two  bombards  were  commanded  by  Lieu 
tenant-Commandant  Dent  and  Lieutenant  Robinson. 
At  half-past  one  o'clock  the  squadron  stood  for  the 
batteries ;  at  two  the  gunboats  were  cast  off*.  At 
half-past  two  signal  for  battle,  at  fifteen  minutes 
before  three  signal  for  general  action.  It  was  com 
menced  by  throwing  shells  from  the  bombs  into  the 
town.  A  tremendous  fire  was  immediately  opened 
from  the  whole  of  the  enemy's  guns,  and  returned 
by  the  squadron,  while  Captain  Decatur,  in  the 
second  division  of  gunboats,  advanced  to  board  the 
eastern  division  of  the  enemy,  consisting  of  nine 
gunboats.  As  they  advanced,  grape  and  musket- 
balls  were  fired,  which  were  soon  succeeded  by  the 
free  use  of  the  pistol,  sabre,  pike,  and  tomahawk. 
Captain  Somers  was  in  such  a  dull  sailer  that  he 
was  unable  to  second  Decatur's  attack ;  but,  bearing 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  165 

down  upon  the  western  division  of  five  gunboats,  he 
defeated  and  drove  them  on  the  rocks  in  a  shattered 
condition. 

Lieutenant  Blake  was  kept  to  windward  during 
the  whole  of  the  action,  and  on  that  account  many 
of  the  enemy's  gunboats  escaped  which  might  by 
his  aid  have  been  taken.  Lieutenant  James  De- 
catur,  in  the  remaining  vessel  of  the  first  division, 
engaged  one  of  the  largest  of  the  enemy's  boats, 
and  compelled  her  to  strike  her  colors ;  but,  as  he 
was  boarding  her  to  take  possession,  the  cowardly 
captain  of  the  surrendered  boat  drew  a  pistol  and 
shot  him  through  the  head,  by  which  baseness  he 
was  enabled  to  escape  under  cover  of  the  other 
boats. 

Captain  Decatur,  after  having  boarded  and  car 
ried  one  of  the  enemy  of  superior  force,  took  his 
prize  in  tow,  bore  down  and  engaged  a  second, 
which  was  also  obliged  to  surrender.  The  gallant 
officer  narrowly  escaped  death  twice  during  this 
action;  once  by  his  own  presence  of  mind,  and 
again  by  the  devotion  of  one  of  his  crew,  who, 
being  wounded  in  both  hands,  received  a  blow  upon 
his  own  head  which  was  intended  for  that  of  De 
catur.  These  two  prizes  had  33  officers  and  men 
killed,  19  badly  wounded,  and  27  taken  prisoners. 

Lieutenant  Trippe,  in  the  last  of  Decatur's  divi 
sion,  ran  alongside  of  one  of  the  enemy's  large  boats, 
which  he  attempted  to  board ;  but,  his  boat  falling 
oft1  too  rapidly,  himself,  Midshipman  John  D.  Hen 
ley,  and  nine  men  only,  were  enabled  to  reach  the 
Tripolitan  deck.  They  had  before  them  victory  or 
death,  with  the  fearful  odds  of  11  to  36.  The 


166  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

Turkish  commander  defended  his  vessel  with  the 
utmost  bravery,  and  before  he  was  mortally  woun 
ded,  by  the  aid  of  Henlej-,  Lieutenant  Trippe  had 
received  eleven  wounds  from  him.  The  American 
seamen  swept  the  deck  of  their  enemies,  and  in  a 
few  minutes  the  colors  were  hauled  down.  Four 
teen  of  the  enemy  were  killed  and  22  made  pri 
soners,  seven  of  which  were  badly  wounded. 

Lieutenant  Bain  bridge  had  his  lateen-yard  shot 
away  before  he  was  enabled  to  close  with  the 
enemy ;  but  he  galled  them  by  a  steady  and  well- 
directed  fire,  within  musket-shot;  indeed,  he  pursued 
the  enemy  until  his  boat  grounded  under  the  bat 
teries.  She  was  fortunately  soon  got  off.  The  bomb- 
vessels  kept  their  station,  though  covered  with  the 
spray  of  the  sea  occasioned  by  the  enemy's  shot ; 
they  were  well  conducted  by  Lieutenants  Dent  and 
Kobinson,  who  kept  up  a  constant  fire  from  the 
mortars  and  threw  a  great  number  of  shells  into 
the  town. 

The  gunboats  made  two  ineffectual  attempts  to 
recover  the  prizes ;  but  the  American  gunboats 
were  too  well  supported  by  the  shipping,  and  they 
were  obliged  to  desist.  The  fire  of  the  Constitution 
produced  a  great  effect,  both  on  shore  and  on  the 
water.  Wherever  the  guns  were  turned,  the 
enemy's  batteries  were  silenced  and  the  flotilla 
thrown  into  disorder.  Her  grape-shot  made  great 
havoc  among  the  men.  At  half-past  four  the  signal 
was  given  for  the  flotilla  to  retire  from  the  actionj 
and  in  fifteen  minutes  the  light  vessels,  gunboats, 
and  prizes,  were  all  out  of  reach  of  the  enemy's  shot, 
and  they  were  taken  in  tow. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


167 


GENERAL     EATON. 


CAPTURE   OF   DERNE. 

WHILE  these  operations  were  in  progress  on  the 
sea,  General  Eaton  had  made  a  successful  campaign 
on  the  land,  and,  at  the  time  the  treaty  was  signed, 
actually  threatened  to  drive  the  reigning  bashaw 
from  the  throne.  Upon  his  return  to  the  Mediter 
ranean  he  learned  that  Hamet  Bashaw,  the  exile, 
was  at  Alexandria,  protected  by  an  Egyptian  bey. 
After  spending  some  time  in  the  Mediterranean,  he 
sailed  in  the  United  States  brig  Argus,  Captain  Hull, 
tor  Alexandria,  where  he  arrived  on  the  25th  of 


168  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

November,  1804.  On  the  last  day  of  November  he 
mailed  for  Kosetta,  from  Alexandria,  where  he  arrived 
on  the  following  day.  On  the  7th  of  December  he 
reached  Cairo,  and,  in  several  conferences  with  the 
viceroy,  that  functionary  was  prevailed  upon  to 
grant  a  letter  of  amnesty,  and  permission  to  pass 
the  Turkish  army,  which  was  besieging  the  Mame 
lukes,  whom  the  exiled  bashaw  had  joined  in  the 
village  of  Minuet,  in  Upper  Egypt.  Despatches 
were  sent  to  Hamet  Bashaw,  and  Eaton  busied  him 
self  in  the  mean  time  with  looking  for  exiles  from 
Tripoli  who  would  be  inclined  to  join  the  expedition. 
From  one  of  them  he  learned  that  Joseph  Bashaw 
had  circulated  the  report  that  his  brother  had  been 
assassinated. 

After  much  difficulty  in  meeting  the  bashaw. 
General  Eaton  prepared  to  march  from  Alexandria 
to  Derne,  across  the  Libyan  Desert,  with  500  men, 
100  of  whom  were  Christians,  recruited  in  Egypt. 

Leaving  Alexandria  on  the  3d  of  March,  this 
little  army  travelled  through  the  desert  to  Bomba, 
where  it  arrived  on  the  loth  of  April.  During  the 
march,  the  Arab  chiefs  who  had  sided  with  Hamet 
Bashaw,  and  who  were  but  little  better  than  bands 
of  robbers,  frequently  deserted  from  the  main  body 
on  account  of  the  refusal  of  General  Eaton  to  satisfy 
their  exorbitant  demands  for  money  over  their  stipu 
lated  reward.  They  generally,  however,  returned 
to  the  encampment  within  a  day  or  two,  hoping 
perhaps  to  make  up  the  loss  they  sustained  from 
General  Eaton's  firmness  by  the  spoils  they  expected 
from  their  enemies.  For  fifteen  days  previously  to 
their  arrival  at  Bomba,  they  had  been  destitute  of 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  169 

bread,  subsisting  upon  rice  collected  in  the  line  of 
march.  On  the  22d  the  Argus  and  Hornet  ap 
peared  in  sight,  saw  and  answered  the  signals  of 
Eaton,  and  supplied  his  army  with  bread  and  other 
provisions.  Upon  receipt  of  these,  the  Arab  sheiks 
found  no  difficulty  in  moving  forward ;  and  on  the 
25th  of  March  the  army  took  post  on  an  eminence 
in  the  rear  of  Derne.  Several  chiefs  came  out  of 
the  town  to  Hamet  Bashaw  to  convince  him  of  their 
fealty;  and  from  them  they  learned  that  of  three 
factions  in  the  town,  one,  well  armed  and  in  poses- 
sion  of  a  strong  fortification,  was  in  the  interest  of 
Hamet.  On  the  26th,  terms  of  amity  were  offered 
the  Governor  of  Derne,  by  a  letter  from  Eaton, 
which  he  simply  answered  by  the  words,  "  My  head, 
or  yours." 

On  the  morning  of  the  27th  the  battle  was  com 
menced  by  the  Tripolitans  firing  upon  the  Argus, 
Hornet,  and  Nautilus,  which  had  stood  in  to  second 
the  attack.  The  Hornet  and  Nautilus  stationed 
themselves  so  as  to  fire  upon  the  batteries,  while 
the  Argus  advanced  until  she  was  able  to  throw  her 
twenty-four-pound  shot  into  the  town.  In  a  little 
while  the  batteries  were  silenced,  the  Tripolitan 
cannoneers  leaving  their  guns  to  join  their  country 
men  in  the  attack  upon  the  American  part  of 
Hamet's  troops.  One  field-piece  only  was  here 
worked  by  the  Christians  against  a  battery  of  the 
barbarians.  This  was  disabled  by  the  rammer  be 
ing  shot  away;  and  the  enemy  were  manifestly  gain 
ing  the  advantage,  when  Eaton  resolved  to  charge 
with  the  50  men  under  his  command  Though  the 
Tripolitans  numbered  seven  to  one  of  their  oppo- 


170  BATTLE -FIELDS     AND 

nents,  they  fled,  and  their  battery  was  soon  sur 
mounted  by  the  American  flag  and  turned  against 
its  late  possessors.  In  this  charge  Eaton  was 
wounded  in  the  wrist,  but  Lieutenant  O'Bannon 
gallantly  led  on  the  troops. 

This  success  was  soon  followed  by  the  capture  of 
the  bey's  palace,  and  the  town  was  in  possession 
of  the  Americans.  The  bey  took  refuge  in  a  Mo 
hammedan  sanctuary;  he,  however,  managed  to 
escape  to  the  Turkish  force  which  had  marched 
from  Tripoli  to  the  relief  of  Derne,  and  which  was 
but  fourteen  hours'  march  from  that  town  when  the 
Americans  fortunately  gained  possession  of  it.  This 
army  numbered  about  1000  men,  exclusive  of  the 
fugitives  from  Derne,  and  a  battle  took  place  be 
tween  it  and  Hamet's  army  on  the  13th  of  May. 
They  commenced  the  action  by  an  attack  on  about 
100  of  Hamet's  cavalry,  who  warmly  disputed  the 
ground  but  were  compelled  to  give  way  to  superior 
numbers.  The  enemy  succeeded  in  forcing  their 
way  to  the  bey's  palace,  when  a  fire  was  opened 
upon  them  from  the  batteries,  and  they  retreated. 
Hamet's  forces  now  came  forward  and  annoyed  them, 
and  they  also  suffered  much  from  the  fire  of  the 
shipping,  to  which  they  became  exposed.  The 
enemy  lost  about  85  in  killed  and  wounded,  and 
the  bashaw  12.  Several  of  the  Arab  chiefs  in  the 
enemy's  camp  were  much  dissatisfied,  and  two  of 
them  deserted  to  the  army  of  Hamet  Bashaw.  From 
this  time  until  the  10th  of  June  the  enemy  lay  en 
camped  withir  sight  of  Derne,  frequently  making 
feints  of  attack  and  skirmishing  with  the  bashaw's 
troops.  On  that  day  the  enemy  attempted  to  drive 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  171 

a  party  of  Harriet's  cavalry  from  a  pass  they  occu 
pied  in  the  heights  near  Derne,  and,  upon  resistance, 
reinforcements  were  successively  added  to  both  sides. 
In  the  end  the  exiled  sovereign  gained  a  decisive 
victory  without  any  other  aid  than  his  own  troops 
afforded.  The  battle  was  fought  in  the  Barbary 
fashion,  the  Americans  and  Europeans  being  but 
little  more  than  spectators  of  the  fight.  The  enemy 
lost  about  50  killed  and  70  wounded.  Harriet  had 
about  60  killed  and  wounded  in  all;  and,  had  his 
men  been  provided  with  bayonets,  the  cavalry  of  his 
brother's  army  would  have  been  severely  handled. 


172 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

11''''"-'''1 Ill  ^--'l^il' 


GEN      W.     H.     H  A  R  K  I  3  0  N. 


BATTLE   OF   TIPPECANOE. 

IN  the  autumn  of  1811,  the  murders  and  other 
outrages  committed  by  the  savages  determined  the 
government  to  adopt  measures  for  the  protection  of 
the  exposed  citizens  against  further  molestation.  A 
small  force  of  regulars  and  militia  was  assembled 
at  Vincennes,  and  placed  under  the  command  of 
William  Henry  Harrison,  Esq.,  Governor  of  the  In 
diana  Territory,  with  instructions  to  march  to  the 
Prophet's  town  and  demand  a  restoration  of  the  pro 
perty  carried  off  by  his  partisans.  He  was  author-- 
ized  also  to  obtain  redress  by  coercive  measures,  if 
necessary. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  173 

On  the  6th  of  November  Governor  Harrison  ar 
rived  before  the  town.  Messengers  from  the  Pro 
phet  were  sent  out  to  meet  him ;  and,  after  an  in 
terview,  in  which  it  was  mutually  agreed  that  no 
hostilities  should  take  place  before  the  next  morning, 
when  amicable  conferences  were  to  be  held,  the 
army  proceeded  to  a  creek  northwest  of  the  village 
and  bivouacked  on  a  bank  of  dry  oak  land,  consider 
ably  elevated,  and  situated  between  two  prairies. 
The  infantry,  in  two  columns,  occupied  the  front 
and  rear,  separated  on  the  left  one  hundred  and 
eighty  yards,  and  on  the  right  about  half  that  dis 
tance.  The  left  flank  was  covered  by  two  companies 
of  mounted  riflemen,  containing  150  rank-and-file, 
commanded  by  Major-General  Wells,  of  Kentucky, 
and  the  right  flank  by  Spencer's  troop  of  mounted 
riflemen,  to  the  number  of  80.  The  front  line  was 
composed  of  one  battalion  of  the  4th  regiment  of  the 
United  States  infantry,  under  the  command  of  Ma 
jor  Floyd,  flanked  on  the  right  by  two  companies  of 
militia  and  on  the  left  by  one.  The  rear  line  was 
formed  of  another  battalion  of  the  4th  United  States 
infantry,  under  Captain  Baen,  acting  major,  flanked 
by  four  companies  of  militia,  under  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Decker.  Two  troops  of  dragoons,  60  strong, 
took  post  in  the  rear  of  the  left  flank,  and  another, 
somewhat  stronger,  in  the  rear  of  the  front  line.  To 
guard  against  a  night  attack,  the  order  of  encamp 
ment  was  appointed  the  order  of  battle ;  and  each 
man  rested  upon  his  arms. 

One  flank  was  protected  by  two  captain's  guards, 
each  of  4  non-commissioned  officers  arid  42  privates; 
and  the  other  by  two  subaltern's  guards,  each  of  20 


174  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

non-con. missioned  officers  and  privates.  Just  before 
reveille  on  the  morning  of  the  7th  of  November, 
1811,  an  attack  commenced  on  the  left  flank,  and 
the  pickets  were  driven  in.  The  first  notice  of  the 
approach  of  the  enemy  was  the  usual  yells  of  the 
savages,  within  a  short  distance  of  the  line.  They 
had  violated  the  armistice  agreed  upon  to  subsist 
until  the  ensuing  day;  which,  it  would  seem,  they 
had  proposed  with  a  view  to  gain  an  opportunity  of 
surprising  their  adversaries  in  their  usual  manner. 
Nothing  but  the  precaution  of  encamping  in  order 
of  battle,  and  the  deliberate  firmness  of  the  officers 
in  counteracting  the  effects  of  a  surprise,  saved  the 
army  from  total  defeat.  The  storm  first  fell  upon 
Captain  Barton's  regulars  and  Captain  Geiger's 
mounted  riflemen,  forming  the  left  angle  on  the 
rear  line.  Some  Indians  forced  themselves  through 
the  line  and  penetrated  into  the  encampment,  where 
they  were  killed.  The  companies  thus  suddenly 
and  severely  attacked  were  reinforced  with  all  pos 
sible  speed.  A  heavy  fire  then  opened  to  the  left 
of  the  front,  immediately  on  the  regular  companies 
of  Captains  Baen,  Snelling,  and  Prescot.  A  gallant 
charge  by  the  cavalry,  from  the  rear  of  the  front 
line,  under  Major  Davies,  was  ordered  for  the  pur 
pose  of  breaking  the  Indians,  who  appeared  in  great 
force  among  some  trees  a  few  yards  distant  in  front. 
The  major  received  a  mortal  wound,  and  his  men 
were  driven  back  by  superior  numbers  of  the  enemy. 
Captain  Snelling's  company  then  charged  with  fixed 
bayonets,  and  the  enemy  were  dislodged.  The 
enemy's  fire  now  extended  along  the  left  flank,  the 
whole  of  the  front,  the  right  flank,  and  part  of  the 


NAYAL     EXPLOITS. 


175 


rear  line.  Upon  Spencer's  mounted  riflemen  and 
the  right  of  Warwick's  company  it  was  excessively 
heavy.  Captain  Spencer  and  his  first  and  second 
lieutenants  were  killed ;  and  Captain  Warwick  fell, 
mortally  wounded.  The  troops,  notwithstanding 
the  fall  of  their  officers,  bravely  maintained  their 
posts  until  reinforced.  Day  approached ;  when  Ma 
jor  Wells,  reconnoitring  the  position  of  the  enemy 


BATTLE    OF    TIPPECANOE. 


on  the  left,  charged  and  broke  them.  At  this  favor 
ing  moment,  a  small  detachment  from  the  cavalry 
dashed  furiously  upon  the  retreating  Indians  and 
precipitated  them  into  the  marsh.  Simultaneously 
with  these  successful  efforts  on  the  left,  the  enemy 
were  charged  on  the  right  by  the  companies  of  Cap 
tain  Cook  and  Lieutenant  Larabie,  supported  by  the 


176  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

mounted  riflemen,  who  pursued  and  killed  a  nun* 
ber  of  Indians  in  their  flight.  Driven  now  at  all 
points,  and  pursued  as  far  as  the  ground  would  per 
mit,  the  Indians  dispersed  in  every  direction.  They 
were  handled  so  severely  in  the  end  that  they  were 
compelled  to  abandon  many  of  their  killed  and 
wounded  on  the  field,  which  is,  with  them,  evidence 
of  positive  defeat.  Forty  Indians  were  found  dead 
on  the  field.  Numbers  were  carried  off,  some  of 
whom  were  found  the  next  day  in  holes  contain 
ing  two,  three,  and  four  bodies,  covered  to  conceal 
them  from  the  victorious  army.  The  general  esti 
mated  their  loss,  in  killed  and  wounded,  at  150. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  177 


EAOHART     TAYLOR 


COMMENCEMENT   OF   THE   WAR  OF   1812 
—DEFENCE   OF   FORT   HARRISON. 

MANY  causes  of  mutual  hostility  between  the 
United  States  and  Great  Britain  had  existed  since 
the  Revolution ;  but  these  did  not  lead  to  actual 
hostilities  until  the  18th  of  June,  1812,  when  war 
was  declared  by  the  United  States. 

The  chief  reasons  of  war  with  Britain,  as  stated 
in  the  President's  message,  were:  —  Impressment 
of  American  seamen,  British  cruisers  violating  the 
peace  of  our  coasts,  pretended  blockades  of  the 
enemy's  coast  without  an  adequate  force,  and  the 
orders  in  council  whereby  our  commerce  with  her 
enemies  was  entirely  prohibited  and  a  vast  amount 
of  property  captured  while  on  its  way  to  their  portB. 

12 


178  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

The  war  on  land  was  at  first  disadvantageous  to 
the  United  States.  Michilimakinac,  with  the  ter 
ritory  of  Michigan,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Bri 
tish.  General  Hull,  who  invaded  Canada,  August 
1, 1812,  was  captured,  with  his  whole  army;  and  the 
territory  on  our  northwestern  frontier  was  thus 
laid  open  to  the  attacks  of  the  enemy,  aided  by 
hostile  Indians.  Previous  to  Hull's  surrender,  which 
took  place  on  the  16th  of  August,  1812,  there  had 
been  an  action  at  Brownstown,  twenty-six  miles  below 
Detroit,  between  Major  Vanhorne  with  200  Ohio 
volunteers,  and  an  ambuscade  of  Indians,  in  which 
our  loss  was  17  killed  and  8  wounded,  (August  4.) 
Another  action  took  place,  August  9,  at  Maguago, 
fourteen  miles  below  Detroit,  in  which  Colonel 
Miller,  with  600  militia,  defeated  700  British  and 
Indians,  under  Major  Muir  and  Tecumseh.  Our 
loss  was  18  killed  and  64  wounded;  their  loss  was 
15  regulars  killed  and  40  Indians  found  dead  on  the 
field.  Near  Chicago,  August  15,  Captain  Heald,  with 
54  regulars  and  12  militia,  encountered  between 
400  and  500  Indians,  and,  after  a  severe  contest,  was 
defeated  with  the  loss  of  39  men,  with  two  women 
and  12  children  who  were  with  the  party. 

Captain  Taylor  in  defending  Fort  Harrison  met 
with  better  success.  This  post,  which  was  situated 
on  the  river  Wabash,  in  the  Indian  Territory,  was 
garrisoned  by  about  50  men,  one-third  of  whom  were 
sick,  under  Captain  Zachary  Taylor,  of  the  regular 
army.  On  the  evening  of  the  3d  of  September,  1812, 
two  young  men  were  shot  and  scalped  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  fort;  and  on  the  succeeding  night  the  attack 
was  commenced  by  the  conflagration  of  a  block- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  179 

house,  in  which  the  provisions  were  contained ; 
and,  at  the  same  time,  a  brisk  fire  was  opened  by 
a  large  body  of  the  Indians  who  had  lain  in  am 
bush.  The  fire  was  returned  with  great  spirit  by 
the  garrison ;  and,  as  the  destruction  of  the  block 
house  had  caused  an  opening  in  his  line  of  defence, 
Captain  Taylor,  with  great  presence  of  mind,  pulled 
down  a  cabin,  and  with  its  materials  constructed 


DEFENCE  OP  FORT  HABRISOK. 


a  breastwork  across  the  aperture.  The  situation 
of  this  small  but  gallant  party  became,  however, 
very  critical,  as  the  attempts  of  the  enemy  to  enter 
by  the  breach  produced  by  the  fire  were  of  a  most 
desperate  nature.  Two  of  the  garrison,  preferring 
the  risk  of  capture  by  the  enemy  to  the  prospect 
of  massacre  in  the  fort,  endeavored  to  make  their 
escape.  One  of  them  was  immediately  killed ;  the 


180  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

other  returned  to  the  walls,  and  remained  concealed 
until  morning.  The  enemy,  finding  their  attempts 
to  gain  possession  ineffectual,  retreated  about  day 
light,  but  remained  in  the  vicinity  of  the  fort  for 
several  days.  Their  loss  was  supposed  to  have 
been  considerable ;  that  of  the  garrison  was  only 
three  killed  and  three  wounded ;  but  the  destruc 
tion  of  the  block-house  was  a  serious  disadvantage, 
as  it  contained  the  whole  of  the  provisions.  For 
his  gallant  conduct  on  this  occasion  Captain  Taylor 
was  shortly  after  brevetted  a  major. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


181 


FORT     NIAGARA. 


BATTLES  OF  OGDENSBURG,   FORT 
NIAGARA,  AND   QUEENSTOWN. 

IN  the  beginning  of  October,  1812,  there  were  as 
sembled  at  Black  Rock  and  Buffalo  1300  newly- 
enlisted  recruits,  under  General  Smyth,  500  militia 
at  the  same  place,  2900  militia  near  Lewistown, 
six  companies  of  field  and  light  artillery,  amounting 
to  300  men,  and  800  infantry,  at  Fort  Niagara,  mak 
ing  an  aggregate  of  5800,  and  composing  what  Gene 
ral  Smyth  in  his  proclamations  denominates  the 
army  of  the  centre,  extending  the  length  of  the 
Niagara  frontier.  The  whole  of  this  force  was  un 
der  the  command  of  Major-General  Van  Rensselaer, 
of  the  Albany  militia.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river  was  General  Brock,  with  a  force  at  Fort 
George,  and  other  posts  extending  to  and  including 


182  BATTLE-FIELDS      AND 

Fort  Erie,  of  2400  men,  consisting  of  the  veterans 
of  the  41st  and  49th  regiments  and  Canadian  flank- 
companies,  and  400  Indians. 

On  the  8th  of  October,  two  British  armed  brigs, 
the  Detroit  and  Caledonia,  came  down  the  lake  from 
Maiden  and  anchored  under  the  guns  of  Fort  Erie. 
Lieutenant  Elliott,  of  the  navy,  had  then  just  ar 
rived  at  Black  Rock,  with  50  seamen,  to  superin 
tend  the  naval  operations  in  that  quarter.  On  the 
evening  of  the  9th,  with  his  seamen  and  a  detach 
ment  of  50  volunteers  from  General  Smyth's  brigade, 
he  passed  over  from  Black  Rock,  boarded  and  took 
the  brigs.  But,  the  wind  not  favoring,  they  drifted 
down  the  current  and  grounded.  The  Detroit,  which 
was  formerly  the  American  brig  Adams  and  sur 
rendered  by  Hull  at  Detroit,  after  being  divested 
of  most  of  her  military  stores,  was  abandoned  and 
burned.  The  Caledonia,  being  near  enough  to  be 
protected  by  the  guns  at  Black  Rock,  was  saved ; 
she  was  laden  with  furs  to  the  value  of  $150,000. 
This  brilliant  achievement  was  effected  with  the  loss 
of  only  two  killed  and  four  wounded. 

The  general  tenor  of  the  Congressional  debates 
and  the  publications  and  the  conversation  of  the 
day  had  induced  a  settled  belief  that  the  Canadus 
would  be  a  certain,  easy,  and  almost  a  bloodless, 
conquest ;  that,  upon  the  appearance  of  a  respectable 
force  at  any  point  on  the  frontier,  the  Canadians  in 
great  numbers  would  flock  to  the  American  standard 
arid  assist  in  the  object.  Impressed  with  these  ideas, 
the  militia  and  volunteers,  who  had  come  out  but  for 
a  short  period,  were  impatient  to  make  a  descent  on 
Canada.  They  insisted  on  being  permitted  to  attack 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  183 

and  drive  the  British  from  the  Niagara  peninsula  and 
then  to  return  to  their  homes;  and  many  threatened 
to  leave  the  camp  unless  led  to  immediate  action. 
The  success  of  Lieutenant  Elliott  had  induced  them 
to  believe  that  the  conquest  was  an  easy  one,  and 
that  they  had  only  to  show  themselves  to  the  enemy 
in  order  to  conquer  them.  In  compliance  with  their 
wishes,  General  Van  Rensselaer  decided  on  making 
the  attempt.  The  principal  British  force  wras  at 
Fort  George ;  but  they  had  made  an  establishment 
and  erected  batteries  on  the  heights  above  Queens- 
town  :  against  these  batteries  the  efforts  of  the 
American  troops  were  to  be  first  directed.  Batteries 
were  erected  on  the  American  shore  to  protect  the 
passage  and  landing  of  the  troops.  The  regular  forces, 
under  Colonel  Fenwick  and  Major  Mallary,  were 
ordered  up  to  Lewistown ;  and  thirteen  boats,  being 
all  that  could  be  procured  at  the  time,  were  provided 
for  crossing.  The  van  of  the  troops  destined  for  the 
attack  consisted  of  militia,  under  the  command  of 
Colonel  Solomon  Van  Rensselaer,  aid  to  the  general, 
a  part  of  the  loth  infantry,  under  Colonel  Christie, 
a  detachment  of  the  6th  and  9th,  under  Major  Mal 
lary, — the  whole  amounting  to  400  men.  At  three 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  13th  they  proceeded 
from  the  camp  at  Lewistown  to  the  place  of  embark 
ation.  Colonel  Van  Rensselaer,  to  whom  the  chief 
command  of  the  expedition  was  intrusted,  with  100 
men,  crossed  over  and  effected  a  landing.  A  grape- 
shot,  from  a  battery  below  Queenstown  which  en 
filaded  the  passage,  wounded  Colonel  Christie  in 
the  hand ;  his  pilot  became  confused,  his  boatmen 
frightened,  and  he  was  obliged  to  return.  The  boats 


184 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


with  Major  Mallary  were  carried  by  the  violence  of 
the  current  below  the  landing-place;  two  of  them 
were  taken,  and  the  others  returned.  In  ascending 
the  bank,  Colonel  Van  Rensselaer  received  four 
wounds.  Captains  Armstrong,  Wool,  and  Malcolm, 
were  also  wounded;  and  Lieutenant  Vulleau  and 
Ensign  Morris  killed.  A  party  of  British  troops, 


liATTLE     OF     QUEENSTOWN. 


having  issued  from  an  old  fort  below  Queenstowri, 
were  fired  upon  by  the  Americans  and  compelled  to 
retreat.  The  firing  from  the  batteries  on  the  heights 
soon  obliged  the  Americans  to  take  shelter  under  the 
bank.  To  Colonel  Van  Rensselaer,  who  lay  on  the 
bank  severely  wounded,  application  was  made  for 
orders.  He  directed  the  batteries  to  be  immediately 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  185 

stormed.  The  men  were  rallied,  and  160,  under  the 
command  of  Captain  Wool,  mounted  the  rocks  on 
the  right  of  the  batteries  and  took  them.  The  guns 
were  ordered  to  be  turned  upon  the  enemy,  but  were 
found  to  be  spiked.  The  remainder  of  the  detach 
ment  now  joined  Captain  Wool.  Both  parties  were 
considerably  reinforced,  and  the  conflict  grew  severe 
at  various  points.  Many  of  the  British  took  shelter 
behind  a  guard-house,  from  whence  a  piece  of  ord 
nance  was  briskly  served;  but  the  fire  from  the  bat 
teries  on  the  American  side  soon  silenced  it.  The 
British  then  retired  behind  a  large  stone  house,  but 
were  soon  routed  and  driven  from  the  hill  in  every 
direction.  General  Brock  rallied  the  troops  at 
Queenstown,  and,  with  reinforcements,  led  them 
round  the  hill  in  rear  of  the  batteries.  Captain 
Wool,  discerning  this,  detached  160  men  to  meet 
them ;  these  were  driven  back.  Being  reinforced, 
they  returned  to  the  attack,  and  were  again  driven 
by  the  British  to  the  precipice  which  forms  the  bank 
of  the  Niagara  above  Queenstown.  Here,  the  British 
pressing  upon  them  with  double  their  numbers,  and 
no  opportunity  of  retreating,  an  officer  placed  a  white 
handkerchief  upon  the  point  of  a  bayonet,  and  raised 
it  as  a  flag,  with  intention  to  surrender;  Captain 
Wool  immediately  tore  it  off,  rallied  his  men,  and 
returned  to  the  charge.  The  British  troops  were  in 
turn  routed. 

General  Brock,  in  endeavoring  to  rally  them,  was 
struck  by  three  balls  and  instantly  killed.  His  aid; 
Colonel  McDonald,  the  attorney-general  of  Upper 
Canada,  was  mortally  wounded  by  his  side.  By  ten 
o'clock  the  British  were  completely  driven  from  the 


186  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

heights.  The  American  line  reformed,  and  flank- 
ing-parties  were  sent  out.  The  victory  now  ap 
peared  complete,  and  General  Van  Rensselaer  pro 
ceeded  to  take  measures  to  secure  the  conquest.  At 
two  o'clock,  General  Wadsworth,  of  the  militia,  with 
Colonels  Scott,  Christie,  and  Major  Mallary,  cross<  d 
over  and  took  the  command.  Captain  Wool  was 
directed  to  retire  and  have  his  wounds  dressed.  He 
crossed  the  river  for  that  purpose,  and  soon  returned 
to  the  field.  About  three  o'clock  a  large  party  of 
Indians  appeared,  pouring  out  of  Chippewa,  and,  with 
their  savage,  yells,  commenced  a  furious  attack.  The 
Americans  at  first  gave  way,  but  were  soon  rallied, 
and  charged  the  savages,  who  directly  fled  to  the, 
woods,  leaving  one  of  their  chiefs  a  prisoner  and 
several  dead  on  the  ground.  Scarcely  had  this 
battle  ended,  when  a  large  reinforcement  with  artil 
lery  arrived  from  Fort  George,  and  the  battle  was 
renewed  with  increased  severity. 

Most  of  the  events  of  the  day  were  in  view  of 
Lewistown.  The  militia  who  had  not  crossed  over 
had  now  seen  enough  of  war.  Their  zeal  for  the 
Canadian  conquest  had  abated.  They  had  dis 
covered  that  the  Constitution  did  not  require  them 
to  go  beyond  the  limits  of  the  United  States.  Seve 
ral  boatloads  which  had  embarked  returned,  and 
no  more  could  be  induced  to  go.  General  Van  Kens- 
selaer  returned  to  the  American  side,  and,  by  every 
means  of  persuasion  and  authority,  promising  and 
threatening,  endeavored  to  bring  them  over  to 
secure  the  victory;  but  to  no  effect.  Twelve  hun 
dred,  whose  presence  only  on  the  opposite  bank 
would  have  decided  the  fortune  of  the  day,  stood 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  187 

on  the  American  shore,  inactive  spectators  of  the 
slaughter  and  capture  of  their  brethren.  The  regu 
lar  troops,  under  General  Smyth,  who  had  been 
ordered  down  from  Black  Rock,  had  not  arrived; 
and  the  Americans  on  the  heights  were  left  to  pro 
tect  themselves.  At  this  time  General  Van  Rens- 
selaer  addressed  a  note  to  General  Wadsworth,  in 
forming  him  that  it  was  out  of  his  power  to  send 
him  succors,  and  advising  him  to  retreat  to  the  river, 
where  boats  should  be  provided  to  take  them  over. 
The  gallant  band  fought  their  way  to  the  river 
against  thrice  their  numbers,  but  on  arriving  there 
no  boats  were  to  be  found.  The  same  panic  had 
struck  the  boatmen  :  not  a  boat  could  be  manned 
to  bring  them  offj  and  the  whole  were  obliged  to 
surrender. 

Three  hundred  and  eighty-six  regulars,  and  368 
militia,  were  made  prisoners  :  the  number  killed  was 
not  exactly  ascertained,  but  supposed  to  be  about  90. 
The  whole  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  prisoners,  and 
missing,  was  estimated  at  1000.  General  Brock  was 
conveyed  to  Fort  George,  and  interred  on  the  15th 
with  military  honors,  the  guns  of  Fort  Niagara,  as 
well  as  those  of  Fort  George,  firing  during  the 
ceremony. 


188 


BATTLE- FIELDS     AND 


CONSTITUTION   AND  GUERRIERE. 

ON  the  2d  of  August,  1812,  the  Constitution,  of 
forty-four  guns,  Captain  Hull,  sailed  from  Boston  on 
a  cruise  which  will  long  be  memorable  in  the  Re 
public  as  the  first  of  a  series  of  exploits  which  ele 
vated  the  character  of  the  nation  and  strongly 
illustrated  the  importance  of  her  navy. 

On  the  19th  of  August  he  fell  in  with  His  Bri 
tannic  Majesty's  ship  Guerriere,  rated  at  thirty-eight 
guns  but  carrying  fifty,  commanded  by  Captain 
Dacres,  who,  some  time  before,  had  politely  en 
dorsed  on  the  register  of  an  American  ship  an  invi 
tation  to  Captain  Hull  to  give  him  a  meeting  of  this 
kind. 

At  half-past  three  P.M.,  Captain  Hull  made  out 
his  antagonist  to  be  a  frigate,  and  continued  the 
chase  till  he  was  within  about  three  miles,  when  he 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  189 

cleared  for  action  ;  the  chase  backed  her  maintopsail 
and  waited  for  him  to  come  down.  As  soon  as  the 
Constitution  was  ready,  Hull  bore  down  to  bring 
the  enemy  to  close  action  immediately;  but,  on  his 
coming  within  gunshot,  the  Guerriere  gave  a  broad 
side  and  filled  away  and  wore,  giving  a  broadside  on 
the  other  tack,  but  without  effect,  her  "shot  falling 
short.  She  then  continued  wearing  and  manoeuv 
ring  for  about  three-quarters  of  an  hour  to  get  a 
raking  position ;  but,  finding  she  could  not,  she  bore 
up  and  ran  under  her  topsails  and  jib,  with  the  wind 
on  the  quarter.  During  this  time,  the  Constitution 
not  having  fired  a  single  broadside,  the  impatience 
of  the  officers  and  men  to  engage  was  excessive. 
Nothing  but  the  most  rigid  discipline  could  have  re 
strained  them.  Hull,  however,  was  preparing  to 
decide  the  contest  in  a  summary  method  of  his  own. 
He  now  made  sail  to  bring  the  Constitution  up  with 
her  antagonist,  arid,  at  five  minutes  before  six,  p.  M., 
being  alongside  within  half  pistol-shot,  he  commenced 
a  heavy  fire  from  all  his  guns,  double-shotted  with 
round  and  grape;  and  so  well  directed  and  so  well 
kept  up  was  the  fire  that  in  sixteen  minutes  the 
mizzenmast  of  the  Guerriere  went  by  the  board,  and 
her  mainyard  in  the  slings,  and  the  hull,  rigging,  and 
sails  were  completely  torn  to  pieces.  The  fire  was 
kept  up  for  fifteen  minutes  longer,  when  the  main 
and  foremast  went,  taking  with  them  every  spar  ex 
cept  the  bowsprit,  and  leaving  the  Guerriere  a  com 
plete  wreck.  On  seeing  this,  Hull  ordered  the  firing 
to  cease,  having  brought  his  enemy  in  thirty  minutes 
after  he  was  fairly  alongside  to  such  a  condition  that 
a  few  more  broadsides  must  have  carried  her  down, 


190 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


The  prize  being  so  shattered  that  she  was  not 
worth  bringing  into  port,  after  removing  the  pri 
soners  to  the  Constitution  she  was  set  on  fire  and 
blown  up.  In  the  action  the  Constitution  lost  7 
killed  and  7  wounded;  the  Guerriere,  15  killed,  62 
wounded, — including  the  captain  and  several  officers, 
— and  24  missing. 

The  news  of  this  victory  was  received  in  the 
United  States  with  the  greatest  joy  and  exultation. 
All  parties  united  in  celebrating  it,  and  the  citizens 
and  public  authorities  vied  with  each  other  in  be 
stowing  marks  of  approbation  upon  Captain  Hull 
aiid  his  gallant  officers  and  crew. 


SURRENDER     OF     THE     GUERRIERB. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


191 


UNITED   STATES  AND  MACEDONIAN- 
WASP  AND   FROLIC— CONSTITUTION 
AND  JAVA. 

ON  the  8th  of  October,  1812,  the  squadron  under 
the  command  of  Commodore  Rodgers,  consisting  of 
the  President,  United  States,  and  Congress  frigates, 
and  the  Argus  sloop-of-war,  sailed  from  Boston  on  a 
cruise.  On  the  13th,  in  a  gale  of  wind,  they  parted 
from  the  United  States  and  Argus.  On  the  15th, 
the  President  and  Congress  captured  a  British  packet, 
with  specie  amounting  to  nearly  two  hundred  thou 
sand  dollars.  On  the  30th  of  December  the  two 
frigates  arrived  at  Boston,  without  having  had  the 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

good  fortune  to  bring  an  armed  vessel  of  the  enemy 
to  action.  The  Argus  arrived  soon  afterwards  at 
New  York,  from  a  very  successful  cruise  of  ninety- 
six  days,  during  which  she  made  captures  of  British 
merchant-men  to  the  value  of  two  hundred  thousand 
dollars,  and  displayed  the  swiftness  of  her  sailing, 
as  well  as  the  skill  of  her  officers,  by  an  escape 
from  a  squadron  of  the  enemy,  consisting  of  six  sail, 
by  which  she  was  chased  for  three  days. 

But  the  cruise  of  the  United  States  was  by  far 
the  most  fortunate,  as  it  gave  her  distinguished  com 
mander  an  opportunity  of  adding  another  leaf  to  the 
laurels  he  had  already  acquired,  and  of  shedding 
additional  glory  on  the  Republic.  On  the  25th  of 
October,  being  off  the  Western  Islands,  she  fell  in 
with  the  British  frigate  Macedonian,  of  forty-nine 
guns  and  300  men, — a  vessel  newly  built  and  of 
superior  equipment.  Being  to  windward,  the  latter 
had  the  advantage  of  choosing  her  distance,  which, 
as  the  United  States  was  in  great  part  armed  with 
carronades,  prevented  her  from  availing  herself  of 
them.  In  consequence  of  this  the  action  occupied 
an  hour  and  a  half.  As  soon,  however,  as  the 
United  States  was  able  to  bring  her  enemy  to  close 
action,  the  superiority  of  the  Americans  in  gunnery 
was  manifestly  displayed.  The  enemy's  mizzenmast 
and  most  of  his  spars  and  rigging  being  shot  away, 
he  deemed  it  expedient  to  surrender,  with  the  loss 
of  36  killed  and  68  wounded.  That  of  the  Ame 
ricans  was  only  four  killed  and  seven  wounded : 
amon«;  the  former  was  Lieutenant  John  Musser 

o 

Funk.     This  great  disproportion  in  the  lose  of  lives, 
which  was  remarkably  displayed  in  all  the  naval 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  193 

actions  during  the  war,  while  it  afforded  a  striking 
proof  of  the  precision  of  the  Americans  in  the  art 
of  firing,  rendered  their  victories  doubly  grateful,  by 
depriving  them  in  a  great  measure  of  the  alloy  of 
individual  grief  with  which  such  events  are  too 
often  intermixed. 

The  damage  sustained  by  the  United  States  was 
not  so  great  as  to  render  necessary  her  return  to 
port.  It  was  deemed  proper,  however,  to  accom 
pany  the  prize  in ;  and  both  frigates  arrived  in 
safety  at  New  York  on  the  4th  of  December,  where 
Captain  Decatur  was  received  with  a  similar  degree 
of  rejoicing  and  gratitude  to  that  the  Republic  had 
heretofore  so  liberally  bestowed  upon  Captain  Hull. 

The  victories,  however,  of  the  Constitution  and 
United  States,  brilliant  as  they  were,  were  obtained 
over  antagonists  somewhat  inferior  in  the  number 
of  their  guns  as  well  as  of  their  men.  We  have 
now  to  record  one  in  which  the  enemy  was  un 
doubtedly  superior  in  the  number  of  his  cannon  and 
not  inferior  in  the  amount  of  his  seamen.  The 
United  States  sloop-of-war  Wasp,  Captain  Jacob 
Jones,  sailed  from  the  Delaware  on  the  13th  of 
October.  On  the  16th  she  experienced  a  heavy 
gale,  in  which  two  men  were  lost,  together  with  her 
jib-boom.  At  midnight  on  the  succeeding  day 
several  sail  were  descried,  to  which  chase  was 
given.  On  the  18th,  at  daylight,  they  were  dis- 
.covered  to  be  a  convoy  of  six  merchant-men,  under 
the  protection  of  a  sloop-of-war,  four  of  them  being 
armed  vessels.  At  half-past  eleven  in  the  morning 
the  action  commenced  between  the  two  national 

vessels,  at  the  distance  of  about  fifty  yards.     So 

13 


194  BATTLE-FIELDS     AXD 

near,  indeed,  did  they  arrive,  that  the  rammers  of 
the  Wasp's  cannon  were,  in  one  instance,  struck 
against  the  side  of  her  enemy.  The  fire  of  the 
English  vessel  soon  slackened;  and  after  a  most 
sanguinary  action  of  forty-three  minutes  it  was 
determined  to  board  her.  This  was  immediately 
effected,  Lieutenant  Biddle,  of  the  Wasp,  particularly 
distinguishing  himself  among  the  boarders.  When 
they  reached  the  deck  of  the  enemy,  they  found  no 
person  upon  it,  except  three  officers  and  the  seaman 
at  the  wheel.  The  colors  were  hauled  down  by 
Lieutenant  Biddle,  there  being  no  one  of  the  enemy's 
seamen  left  to  perform  that  office. 

The  vessel  thus  gallantly  captured  proved  to  be 
his  Britannic  majesty's  brig-of-war,  the  Frolic,  of 
twenty-two  guns,  commanded  by  Captain  Whin- 
yates.  The  Wasp  mounting  but  eighteen  guns,  the 
enemy  was  thus  superior  by  four  cannon.  The 
annals  of  naval  warfare  have,  perhaps,  seldom  con 
tained  the  narration  of  a  more  sanguinary  conflict 
than  this.  The  decks  of  the  Frolic  were  crowded 
with  the  dead  and  wounded,  many  of  whom  were 
crushed  by  the  falling  of  her  spars.  Not  less  than 
30  are  said  to  have  been  killed,  and  about  50 
wounded :  both  of  her  masts  were  shot  away ;  and 
she  lay  on  the  water,  an  unmanageable  wreck.  The 
Wasp  also  suffered  severely  in  her  spars  and  rigging 
from  the  enemy's  fire :  her  loss  of  men,  however, 
was  trivial,  compared  with  that  of  her  opponent, 
four  only  being  killed  and  four  wounded.  The 
brave  officers  and  crew  of  the  Wasp  were  unfor 
tunately  deprived,  shortly  afterwards,  of  their  hard- 
earned  prize.  No  sooner  had  the  engagement  ceased 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  195 

than  a  sail  was  seen,  which  soon  approached  near 
enough  for  them  to  discover  that  she  was  an  enemy's 
seventy-four-gun-ship.  From  the  disabled  state  of 
both  vessels,  an  escape  was  impracticable :  they 
were  therefore  obliged  to  surrender  to  the  British 
ship  Poictiers,  by  which  they  were  carried  into 
Bermuda. 

The  honors  conferred  upon  Captain  Jones,  his 
officers  and  crew,  on  their  return  to  the  United 
States,  were  not  less  flattering  than  those  received 
on  the  former  occasions.  Many  of  the  State  legis 
latures  voted  them  their  thanks;  and  the  substan 
tial  recompense  of  twenty-five  thousand  dollars  was 
appropriated  by  Congress  as  a  compensation  for  the 
loss  of  the  vessel  they  had  so  gallantly  acquired. 
Captain  Jones  was  soon  afterwards  appointed  to 
the  command  of  the  Macedonian  frigate,  which  had 
been  purchased  by  the  government  from  the  cap 
tors  and  added  to  the  navy  of  the  United  States. 

Nor  was  this  the  last  of  those  gallant  achieve 
ments  which  raised  so  high  the  character  of  the 
American  navy.  The  frigate  Constitution  was  des 
tined  to  receive  a  brilliant  addition  to  the  fame  she 
had  acquired  in  her  combat  with  the  Guerriere,  and 
to  render  the  name  of  the  Republic  celebrated  in 
remote  seas.  After  his  capture  of  the  British  frigate, 
Captain  Hull  resigned  the  command  of  the  Constitu 
tion,  for  the  purpose  of  attending  to  his  private 
affairs,  and  was  succeeded  by  Captain  William 
Bainbridge. 

Accompanied  by  the  Hornet  sloop-of-war,  the 
Constitution  sailed  from  Boston,  on  a  cruise  to  tLe 
Pacific  Ocean,  towards  the  end  of  October.  In  run- 


196  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

ning  down  the  coast  of  Brazil,  they  discovered  the 
Bonne  Citoyenne,  a  British  vessel-of-war,  of  greater 
force  than  the  Hornet,  lying  in  the  port  of  St.  Sal 
vador.  Captain  Lawrence,  of  the  Hornet,  sent  a 
challenge,  however,  to  the  commander  of  the  enemy's 
vessel,  pledging  himself  that  Captain  Bainbridge 
should  not  interfere.  The  British  captain  did  not 
think  proper  to  accept  the  offer,  although  the  Con 
stitution  had  sailed  on  another  cruise,  and  the  Hor 
net  was  left  to  blockade  the  enemy's  vessel. 

After  leaving  St.  Salvador,  Captain  Bainbridge 
steered  along  the  coast  of  Brazil  until  the  29th  of 
December,  when  two  sail  were  discovered,  one  of 
which  stood  in  for  the  land  and  the  other  towards 
the  Constitution.  The  latter  was  soon  perceived  to 
be  a  British  frigate,  when  Captain  Bainbridge  tackecl 
ship  and  stood  for  her.  At  two  P.M.,  the  enemy 
being  to  windward  and  having  hauled  down  all  her 
colors  except  the  union,  Captain  Bainbridge  ordered 
a  gun  to  be  fired  ahead  of  her,  upon  which  she 
hoisted  her  colors  and  returned  the  fire.  The 
action  now  commenced  with  great  vigor  on  both 
sides;  the  British  frigate  keeping  at  long  shot,  and 
the  Constitution  not  being  able  to  close  with  her 
without  exposing  herself  to  the  danger  of  being 
raked.  The  wheel  of  the  latter,  however,  being 
shot  away,  Captain  Bainbridge  now  determined  to 
bring  his  antagonist  to  close  action.  He  accordingly 
luffed  up  and  took  a  position  near  to  her.  Soon 
after  four  o'clock,  the  fire  of  the  enemy  being  com 
pletely  silenced,  the  Constitution  passed  ahead  for 
the  purpose  of  repairing  her  rigging.  Finding,  how 
ever,  that  the  British  flag  was  still  flying,  Captain 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  197 

Bainbridge  took  a  raking  position  on  her  bows,  and 
was  at  the  moment  about  to  commence  a  destruc 
tive  fire,  when  the  enemy  hauled  down  his  colors 
and  surrendered  his  ship.  Possession  was  soon  after 
taken  of  her,  when  she  proved  to  be  the  British 
frigate  Java,  carrying  forty-nine  guns  and  manned 
with  upwards  of  400  men.  She  was  commanded  by 
Captain  Lambert,  a  very  distinguished  officer,  who 
was  mortally  wounded,  and  was  on  her  way  to  the 
East  Indies,  with  a  number  of  British  land  and 
naval  officers.  Among  them  was  Lieutenant-General 
Hislop  and  his  staff.  One  hundred  supernumerary 
seamen  were  also  on  board.  Her  loss  was  exceed 
ingly  severe,  60  having  been  killed  and  considerably 
more  than  100  wounded.  The  Americans,  as  usual, 
suffered  much  less,  only  9  being  killed  and  25 
wounded. 

Finding  that  the  Java  was  so  much  injured  by 
the  fire  of  the  Constitution  as  to  forbid  the  hope  of 
getting  her  safe  into  the  United  States,  she  was  set 
on  fire  on  the  31st,  the  crew  and  passengers  and 
their  baggage  having  been  previously  removed.  The 
prisoners,  to  the  number  of  361,  including  officers, 
were  landed  at  St.  Salvador,  on  their  parole.  The 
damage  the  Constitution  received  in  the  action,  and 
her  decayed  state,  made  it  necessary  to  return  to 
the  United  States  for  repairs.  She  left  St.  Salvador 
on  the  6th  of  January,  and  arrived  at  Boston  on 
the  8th  of  the  succeeding  month. 

In  all  the  victories  of  the  American  navy  the 
skill  and  valor  of  the  officers  and  crews  were  not 
less  conspicuous  than  their  humanity  and  generosity 
to  their  vanquished  enemy.  The  truth  of  the  old 


198  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

observation,  that  the  brave  are  peculiarly  susceptible 
of  the  kindly  and  gentler  feelings  of  our  nature, 
was  never  more  strongly  manifested  than  on  these 
occasions.  Every  thing  that  the  most  active 
humanity  as  well  as  the  most  refined  delicacy  could 
suggest  was  displayed  towards  the  officers  and 
crews  of  the  Guerriere,  the  Macedonian,  the  Frolic, 
and  the  Java.  Private  property  was  scrupulously 
respected ;  and  the  acknowledgments  of  the  enemy 
evinced  their  high  sense  of  the  liberality  with 
which  the  conduct  of  the  Americans  had  been 
marked. 

It  was  not  to  be  expected,  however,  that  the  con 
flict  on  the  ocean,  covered  as  it  was  by  the  ships  of 
the  enemy,  could  be  carried  on  without  some  loss  to 
the  American  navy.  It  was  boldly  anticipated  by 
the  British  orators  at  the  commencement  of  the  war 
that  the  infant  marine  of  the  Republic  would  be 
swept  from  the  ocean,  while  the  commerce  of  the 
British  isles  would  be  carried  on  as  usual,  without 
interruption.  Even  the  best  friends  of  America 
feared  that,  after  a  sanguinary  opposition  and  per 
haps  useless  victories,  the  national  vessels  would 
be  hunted  from  the  ocean  or  be  compelled  to  sur 
render  to  an  overpowering  superiority.  The  con 
trast  between  these  anticipations,  however,  and  the 
actual  result,  was  of  the  most  striking  nature,  and 
must  have  afforded  occasion  to  many  mortifying 
reflections  on  the  part  of  the  British  cabinet.  Six 
months  had  now  elapsed  from  the  commencement 
of  hostilities,  during  which  time  the  national  ves 
sels  of  the  Republic  had  carried  its  flag  into  almost 
*ivery  ocean.  Three  of  them  only  had  fallen  into 


XAVAL     EXPLOITS.  199 

the  hands  of  the  enemy,  and  those  under  such  cir 
cumstances  of  relative  force  as  to  reflect  no  discredit 
on  the  captured.  The  Wasp  sloop-of-war  was  taken, 
as  we  have  seen,  by  a  seventy-four-gun  ship;  the 
schooner  Nautilus,  of  twelve  guns,  commanded  by 
Lieutenant  Crane,  surrendered,  after  a  long  chase, 
to  a  squadron  of  the  enemy's  frigates;  and  the 
Vixen  gun-brig  was  captured  on  the  22d  of  Novem 
ber  by  the  frigate  Southampton,  arid  carried  into 
the  West  Indies,  where  her  commander,  Captain 
Read,  subsequently  died. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  havoc  made  upon  the 
commerce  of  the  enemy  was  beyond  all  previous 
calculation.  It  has  been  stated,  upon  good  authority, 
that,  previous  to  the  meeting  of  Congress  in  Novem 
ber,  nearly  two  hundred  and  fifty  vessels  had  been 
captured  by  the  American  cruisers,  and  more  than 
3000  prisoners  taken,  while  of  the  American  mer 
chant-men  comparatively  few  had  fallen  into  the 
power  of  the  enemy.  The  injury  thus  inflicted  on 
the  British  commerce  was  produced  only  in  a  partial 
degree  by  the  public  vessels.  The  American  priva 
teers  swarmed  in  every  sea,  and  the  enterprise  so 
conspicuous  in  the  character  of  the  nation  rendered 
them  most  formidable  opponents.  Being  mostly 
built  with  a  view  to  expeditious  sailing,  they  were 
in  general  able  to  overtake  the  merchant  vessels 
and  to  escape  from  the  fastest  frigates  of  the  enemy. 
These  advantages  were  never  sullied  by  inhumanity; 
and  the  generosity  with  which  they,  in  many  in 
stances,  acted  in  opposition  to  the  love  of  profit, 
reflects  credit  on  the  national  character. 


200 


BATTLE-FIELDS      AND 


MASSACRE    ON    THE    RIYIR    RAISItf. 

BATTLE   OF   FRENCHTOWN. 

IN  the  West  and  Northwest  the  American  arms 
were  unfortunate.  The  left  wing  of  the  North 
western  army  was  commanded  by  General  James 
Winchester.  Receiving  intelligence  that  the  British 
and  Indians  were  posted  at  French  town,  on  the 
river  Raisin,  Harrison  ordered  this  detachment  to 
proceed  against  them,  if  its  commander  thought  it 
practicable.  Winchester  immediately  detached  an 
efficient  force,  under  Colonel  Lewis,  which  made  a 
rapid  march  and  reached  the  vicinity  of  Frenchtown 
on  the  18th  of  January.  The  enemy  were  prepared 
to  receive  them ;  but  the  Americans  advanced  with 
such  impetuosity  that  the  enemy  were  dislodged 
from  their  works  and  driven  to  the  distance  of  two 
miles.  The  battle  lasted  from  three  o'clock  in  the 


NAYAL     EXPLOITS.  201 

afternoon  until  dark.  The  American  detachment 
then  encamped  on  the  spot  from  which  it  had  driven 
the  enemy.  The  loss  of  the  British  and  Indians  was 
very  severe.  That  of  the  Americans  was  12  killed 
and  55  wounded.  General  Winchester,  with  about 
300,  arrived  at  Frenchtown  on  the  20th. 

On  the  morning  of  the  22d  the  Americans  were 
surprised  and  attacked  by  a  greatly  superior  force  of 
British  and  Indians,  commanded  by  Colonel  Proctor. 
The  action  was  wrarmly  contested  for  about  a  half 
hour,  when,  the  enemy's  fire  becoming  too  galling, 
Winchester  ordered  his  men  to  form  on  the  north 
bank  of  the  river;  but  they  gave  way,  and  could 
not  be  rallied.  The  Indians  gained  their  rear,  and, 
thus  borne  down  by  numbers,  General  Winchester, 
35  officers,  and  487  non-commissioned  officers  and 
privates,  surrendered  themselves  prisoners  of  war. 
Before  the  troops  surrendered,  the  British  com 
mander  promised  them  protection  from  the  ferocity 
of  the  Indians;  but  the  promise  was  made  to  be 
broken.  At  break  of  day  the  next  morning  the 
savages  were  suffered  to  commit  every  depredation 
they  pleased.  An  indiscriminate  slaughter  of  all 
who  were  unable  to  walk  ensued ;  many  were  toma 
hawked,  and  many  were  burned  alive  in  their  houses. 
Every  species  of  private  property  remaining  in  the 
tents  was  appropriated  by  the  Indians.  The  whole 
detachment  was  captured  or  destroyed.  The  loss  of 
the  British  and  Indians  was  not  ascertained,  but 
must  have  been  severe,  since,  for  a  time,  the  Ameri 
cans  fought  with  the  fury  of  desperation.  There  is 
no  doubt  that  this  disaster  was  owing  to  Winchester's 
want  of  caution. 


202 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


SIEGE  OF  FOKT   MEIGS. 

AFTER  the  defeat  and  capture  of  General  Win 
chester  and  his  army  at  the  river  Raisin,  General 
Harrison  established  his  advanced  post  at  the  foot 
of  the  Miami  Rapids,  enclosing  about  eight  acres 
with  strong  pickets,  and  establishing  batteries  at 
the  most  commanding  points.  This  position  was 
selected  as  being  convenient  for  keeping  open  a 
communication  and  receiving  reinforcements  and 
supplies  from  Kentucky  and  the  settled  parts  of  the 
State  of  Ohio,  and,  at  the  same  time,  affording  the 
best  station  for  protecting  the  borders  of  Lake  Erie, 
recapturing  Detroit,  and  carrying  the  war  into  the 
British  territories.  It  was  denominated  Fort  Meigs, 
in  honor  of  the  zeal  and  talents  of  the  Governor  of 
Ohio.  The  Miami  of  the  Lake  is  formed  by  the  St. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  203 

Mary's,  which  comes  from  the  South,  and  the  St. 
Joseph's,  which  rises  in  the  Indiana  Territory. 
These  rivers  unite  at  Fort  Wayne,  near  the  west 
line  of  the  State  of  Ohio ;  from  this  point  the  river 
assumes  the  name  of  Miami,  and  runs  a  northeast 
erly  direction,  about  fifty  miles  to  Fort  Winchester, 
formerly  Fort  Defiance,  where  it  receives  the  waters 
of  the  Auglaize  from  the  South.  Thence  it  con 
tinues  the  same  course  forty  miles  farther  to  the 
rapids,  and,  after  passing  a  short  distance  below 
Fort  Meigs  on  the  left,  and  the  ruins  of  a  small 
village  on  the  right,  and  embracing  a  large  island, 
falls  into  the  Miami  Bay,  opposite  the  site  of  an 
old  British  fort,  eighteen  miles  from  Lake  Erie. 
The  rapids  terminate  at  Fort  Meigs,  three  miles 
above  the  head  of  the  bay.  On  the  breaking  up 
of  the  ice  in  Lake  Erie,  General  Proctor,  with 
all  his  disposable  force,  consisting  of  regulars  and 
Canadian  militia  from  Maiden,  and  a  large  body 
of  Indians  under  their  celebrated  chief,  Tecumseh, 
amounting  in  the  whole  to  2000  men,  laid  siege  to 
Fort  Meigs.  To  encourage  the  Indians,  he  had  pro 
mised  them  an  easy  conquest,  and  assured  them 
that  General  Harrison  should  be  delivered  up  to 
Tecumseh.  On  the  26th  of  April  the  British  co 
lumns  appeared  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  river 
and  established  their  principal  batteries  on  a  com 
manding  eminence  opposite  the  fort.  On  the  27th 
the  Indians  crossed  the  river  and  established  them 
selves  in  the  rear  of  the  American  lines.  The  gar 
rison,  not  having  completed  their  wells,  had  no 
water  except  what  they  obtained  from  the  river 
under  a  constant  firing  of  the  enemy.  On  the  1st,  2d, 


204  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

and  3d  of  May  their  batteries  kept  up  an  incessant 
shower  of  balls  and  shells  upon  the  fort.  On  the 
night  of  the  3d  the  British  erected  a  gun-and-mor- 
tar  battery  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river,  within  two 
hundred  and  fifty  yards  of  the  American  lines.  The 
Indians  climbed  the  trees  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
fort,  and  poured  in  a  galling  fire  upon  the  garrison. 
In  this  situation  General  Harrison  received  a  sum 
mons  from  Proctor  for  a  surrender  of  the  garrison, 
greatly  magnifying  the  means  of  annoyance;  this 
was  answered  by  a  prompt  refusal,  assuring  the 
British  general  that  if  he  obtained  possession  of  the 
fort  it  would  not  be  by  capitulation.  Apprehensive 
of  such  an  attack,  General  Harrison  had  made  the 
governors  of  Kentucky  and  Ohio  minutely  acquaint 
ed  with  his  situation,  and  stated  to  them  the  neces 
sity  of  reinforcements  for  the  relief  of  Fort  Meigs. 
His  requisitions  had  been  zealously  anticipated,  and 
General  Clay  was  at  this  moment  descending  the 
Miami  with  1200  Kentuckians  for  his  relief. 

At  twelve  o'clock  in  the  night  of  the  4th  an  offi 
cer  arrived  from  General  Clay  with  the  welcome 
intelligence  of  his  approach,  stating  that  he  was  just 
above  the  rapids,  and  could  reach  him  in  two  hours, 
and  requesting  his  orders.  Harrison  determined  on 
a  general  sally,  and  directed  Clay  to  land  800  men 
on  the  right  bank,  take  possession  of  the  British 
batteries,  spike  their  cannon,  immediately  return  to 
their  boats,  and  cross  over  to  the  American  fort. 
The  remainder  of  Clay's  force  was  ordered  to  land 
on  the  left  bank  and  fight  their  way  to  the  fort, 
while  sorties  were  to  be  made  from  the  garrison  in 
aid  of  these  operations.  Captain  Hamilton  was 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  205 

directed  to  proceed  up  the  river  in  a  periauger,  land 
a  subaltern  on  the  left  bank,  who  should  be  a  pilot 
to  conduct  General  Clay  to  the  fort,  and  then  cross 
over  and  station  his  periauger  at  the  place  designated 
for  the  other  division  to  land.  General  Clay,  having 
received  these  orders,  descended  the  river  in  order 
of  battle  in  solid  columns,  each  officer  taking  posi 
tion  according  to  his  rank.  Colonel  Dudley,  being 
the  eldest  in  command,  led  the  van,  and  was  ordered 
to  take  the  men  in  the  twelve  front  boats  and  exe 
cute  General  Harrison's  orders  on  the  right  bank. 
He  effected  his  landing  at  the  place  designated, 
without  difficulty.  General  Clay  kept  close  along 
the  left  bank  until  he  came  opposite  the  place  of 
Colonel  Dudley's  landing;  but,  not  finding  the  subal 
tern  there,  he  attempted  to  cross  over  and  join 
Colonel  Dudley;  this  was  prevented  by  the  violence 
of  the  current  on  the  rapids,  and  he  again  attempted 
to  land  on  the  left  bank,  and  effected  it  with  only 
fifty  men  amid  a  brisk  fire  from  the  enemy  on  shore, 
and  made  his  way  to  the  fort,  receiving  their  fire 
until  within  the  protection  of  its  guns.  The  other 
boats,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Boswell,  were 
driven  farther  down  the  current,  and  landed  on 
the  right  to  join  Colonel  Dudley.  Here  they  were 
ordered  to  re-embark,  land  on  the  left  bank,  and 
proceed  to  the  fort.  In  the  mean  time  two  sorties 
were  made  from  the  garrison,  one  on  the  left,  in  aid 
of  Colonel  Boswell,  by  which  the  Canadian  militia 
and  Indians  were  defeated  and  he  enabled  to  reach 
the  fort  in  safety,  and  one  on  the  right,  against  the 
British  batteries,  which  was  also  successful. 

Colonel  Dudley,  with  his  detachment  of  800  Ken- 


206  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

tucky  militia,  completely  succeeded  in  driving  the 
British  from  their  batteries  and  spiking  the  cannon. 
Having  accomplished  this  object,  his  orders  were 
peremptory  to  return  immediately  to  his  boats  and 
cross  over  to  the  fort ;  but  the  blind  confidence 
which  generally  attends  militia  when  successful 
proved  their  ruin.  Although  repeatedly  ordered  by 
Colonel  Dudley,  and  warned  of  their  danger,  and 
called  upon  from  the  fort  to  leave  the  ground,  and 
although  there  was  abundant  time  for  that  purpose 
before  the  British  reinforcements  arrived,  yet  they 
commenced  a  pursuit  of  the  Indians,  and  suffered 
themselves  to  be  drawn  into  an  ambuscade  by  some 
feint  skirmishing,  while  the  British  troops  and  large 
bodies  of  Indians  were  brought  up  and  intercepted 
their  return  to  the  river.  Elated  with  their  first 
success,  they  considered  the  victory  as  already  gain 
ed,  and  pursued  the  enemy  nearly  two  miles  into 
the  woods  and  swamps,  where  they  were  suddenly 
caught  in  a  defile  and  surrounded  by  double  their 
numbers.  Finding  themselves  in  this  situation,  con 
sternation  prevailed ;  their  line  became  broken  and 
disordered;  and,  huddled  together  in  unresisting 
crowds,  they  were  obliged  to  surrender  to  the  mercy 
of  the  savages.  Fortunately  for  these  unhappy  vic 
tims  of  their  own  rashness,  General  Tecumseh  com 
manded  at  this  ambuscade,  and  had  imbibed,  since 
his  appointment,  more  humane  feelings  than  his 
brother  Proctor.  After  the  surrender,  and  all  re 
sistance  had  ceased,  the  Indians,  finding  500  pri 
soners  at  their  mercy,  began  the  work  of  massacre 
with  the  most  savage  delight.  Tecumseh  sternly 
ibrbade  it,  and  buried  his  tomahawk  in  the  head  of 


TMAVAL     EXPLOITS.  207 

one  of- his  chiefs  who  refused  obedience.  This  order, 
accompanied  with  this  decisive  manner  of  enforcing 
it,  put  an  end  to  the  massacre.  Of  800  men  only 
150  escaped.  The  residue  were  slain  or  made  pri 
soners.  Colonel  Dudley  was  severely  wounded  in 
the  action,  arid  afterwards  tomahawked  and  scalped. 
Proctor,  seeing  no  prospect  of  taking  the  fort,  and 
finding  his  Indians  fast  leaving  him,  raised  the  siege 
on  the  9th  of  May,  and  returned  with  precipitation 
to  Maiden.  Tecumseh  and  a  considerable  portion 
of  the  Indians  remained  in  service ;  but  large  num 
bers  left  it  in  disgust,  and  were  ready  to  join  the 
Americans.  On  the  left  bank,  in  the  several  sorties 
of  the  5th  of  May  and  during  the  siege,  the  Ameri 
can  loss  was  81  killed  and  189  wounded.  General 
Harrison,  having  repaired  the  fort  and  committed  its 
defence  to  General  Clay,  repaired  to  Franklinton  to 
organize  the  new  levies  and  systematize  a  plan  of 
defence  for  the  Erie  frontier.  At  Lower  Sandusky 
he  met  Governor  Meigs,  at  the  head  of  a  large  body 
of  Ohio  volunteers,  pressing  on  to  his  relief,  and  gave 
him  the  pleasing  intelligence  that  the  siege  was 
raised.  The  volunteers  were  there  discharged,  with 
the  warmest  acknowledgments  of  the  governor  and 
general  for  their  promptness  and  zeal  in  marching  to 
the  relief  of  Fort  Meigs. 


208 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


DEFEKCE     OF     FORT     STKPHBNSOB. 

DEFENCE  OF  FORT  STEPHENSON. 

ON  the  28th  of  July,  1813,  the  followers  of  Proc 
tor  again  approached  Fort  Meigs,  around  which  they 
remained  for  a  week,  effecting  nothing,  though  very 
numerous.  The  purpose  of  this  second  investment 
seems,  indeed,  rather  to  have  been  the  diversion  of 
Harrison's  attention  from  Erie,  and  the  employment 
of  the  immense  bands  of  Indians  which  the  English 
had  gathered  at  Maiden,  than  any  serious  blow;  and, 
finding  no  progress  made,  Proctor  next  moved  to 
Sandusky,  into  the  neighborhood  of  the  comrnander- 
in-chief.  The  principal  stores  of  Harrison  were  at 
Sandusky,  while  he  was  himself  at  Seneca  and 
Major  Croghan  at  Fort  Stephenson  or  Lower  San 
dusky.  This  latter  post  being  deemed  indefensible 
against  heavy  cannon,  and  it  being  supposed  that 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  209 

Proctor  would  of  course  bring  heavy  cannon  if  he 
attacked  it,  the  general  and  a  council  of  war  called 
by  him  thought  it  wisest  to  abandon  it ;  but,  before 
this  could  be  done  after  the  final  determination  of  the 
matter,  the  appearance  of  the  enemy  upon  the  31st 
of  July  made  it  impossible.  The  garrison  of  the  little 
fort  was  composed  of  150  men,  under  a  commander 
just  past  his  twenty-first  year,  and  with  a  single 
piece  of  cannon,  while  the  investing  force,  including 
Tecumseh's  Indians,  was,  it  is  said,  3300  strong, 
and  with  six  pieces  of  artillery, —  all  of  them,  for 
tunately,  light  ones.  Proctor  demanded  a  surrender, 
and  told  the  unvarying  story  of  the  danger  of  pro 
voking  a  general  massacre  by  the  savages  unless 
the  fort  was  yielded :  to  all  which  the  representative 
of  young  Croghan  replied  by  saying  that  the  Indians 
would  have  none  left  to  massacre  if  the  British  con 
quered,  for  every  man  of  the  garrison  would  have 
died  at  his  post.  Proctor  upon  this  opened  his  fire, 
which,  being  concentrated  upon  the  northwest  angle 
of  the  fort,  led  the  commander  to  think  that  it  was 
meant  to  make  a  breach  there  and  carry  the  works 
by  assault :  he  therefore  proceeded  to  strengthen 
that  point  by  bags  of  sand  and  flour,  while  under 
cover  of  night  he  placed  his  single  six-pounder  in  a 
position  to  rake  the  angle  threatened,  and  then, 
having  charged  his  infant  battery  with  slugs  and 
hidden  it  from  the  enemy,  he  waited  the  event. 
During  the  night  of  the  1st  of  August,  and  till  late 
in  the  evening  of  the  2d,  the  firing  continued  upon 
the  devoted  northwest  corner;  then,  under  cover 
of  the  smoke  and  gathering  darkness,  a  column  of 

350  men  approached  unseen  to  within  twenty  paces 

14 


210 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


of  the  walls.  The  musketry  opened  upon  them,  but 
with  little  effect ;  the  ditch  was  gained,  and  in  a 
moment  filled  with  men.  At  that  instant  the  masked 
cannon,  only  thirty  feet  distant,  and  so  directed  as  to 
sweep  the  ditch,  was  unmasked  and  fired,  killing 
at  once  27  of  the  assailants.  The  effect  was  decisive; 
the  column  recoiled,  and  the  little  fort  was  saved, 
with  the  loss  of  one  man.  On  the  next  morning 
the  British  and  their  allies,  having  the  fear  of  Har 
rison  before  their  eyes,  were  gone,  leaving  behind 
them,  in  their  haste,  guns,  stores,  and  clothing. 


COLONEL    CROOHAN. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


211 


BUILDING     OF     THE     FLEET     ON     LAKE     £KIE. 


BATTLE   ON   LAKE   ERIE. 

THE  American  fleet  on  Lake  Erie  having  been 
completed,  and  with  great  difficulty  passed  over  the 
bar,  a  principal  part  of  the  crew  of  each  vessel  being 
made  up  of  the  Pennsylvania  militia  who  had  volun 
teered  to  go  on  an  expedition,  sailed  on  a  short  cruise 
for  the  purpose  of  training  the  guns  and  of  exercising 
the  sailors.  In  the  latter  part  of  August,  Commo 
dore  Perry  proceeded  to  the  mouth  of  Sandusky 
Biver  to  co-operate  with  General  Harrison.  At  this 
place  about  70  volunteer  marines  were  received  on 
board,  and  the  fleet  sailed  in  quest  of  the  British 
squadron.  The  latter  was  at  that  time  near  Maiden, 
before  which  place  Commodore  Perry  appeared,  and, 
after  reconnoitring  the  enemy,  he  retired  to  Put-in 
Bay,  a  distar.ce  of  thirty  miles,  in  hopes  of  drawing 
out  his  antagonist. 


212  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

On  the  morning  of  the  10th  of  September,  1813, 
the  enemy  was  discovered  bearing  down  upon  the 
American  squadron,  which  immediately  got  under 
way  and  stood  out  to  meet  him.  The  superiority  of 
force  was  greatly  in  favor  of  the  British,  though 
they  had  not  an  equal  number  of  vessels.  Their 
crews  were  larger  and  the  length  and  number  of 
their  guns  greater  than  those  of  the  American 
squadron. 

When  the  American  fleet  stood  out,  the  British 
fleet  had  the  weather-gauge;  but  at  ten  o'clock  A.M. 
the  wind  shifted  and  brought  the  American  to  wind 
ward.  The  line  of  battle  was  formed  at  eleven,  and 
at  fifteen  minutes  before  twelve  the  enemy's  flag 
ship  and  the  Queen  Charlotte  opened  upon  the  Law 
rence  a  heavy  and  effectual  fire,  which  she  was 
obliged  to  sustain  upwards  of  ten  minutes  without  a 
possibility  of  returning  it,  in  consequence  of  her  bat 
tery  being  of  carronades.  She  nevertheless  con 
tinued  to  bear  up,  and,  having  given  a  signal  to  the 
other  vessels  to  support  her,  at  a  few  minutes  before 
twelve  opened  her  fire  upon  the  enemy. 

The  wind  being  too  light  to  assist  the  remainder 
of  the  squadron  in  coming  up,  the  Lawrence  was 
compelled  to  fight  the  enemy's  heaviest  vessels  up 
wards  of  two  hours.  The  crew  were  not  at  all 
depressed ;  their  animation  increased  as  the  despera 
tion  of  the  fight  became  greater,  and  the  guns  were 
worked  with  as  much  coolness  and  precision  as  if 
they  had  been  in  the  act  of  training  only.  The 
slaughter  on  board  the  brig  was  almost  unparalleled, 
the  rigging  very  much  injured,  and  the  braces  en 
tirely  shot  away;  and  at  length,  after  every  gun 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  213 

had  been  rendered  useless,  she  became  quite  un 
manageable.  The  first  lieutenant,  Yarnall,  was 
thrice  wounded;  the  second  lieutenant,  Forrest, 
struck  in  the  breast ;  the  gallant  Lieutenant  Brookes^ 
of  the  marines,  and  Midshipman  Laub,  were  killed, 
and  Sailing-master  Taylor,  Purser  Hamilton,  and 
Midshipmen  Claxton  and  Swartwout,  wounded.  Her 
loss  already  amounted  to  22  killed  and  61  wounded, 
when  the  commodore,  seeing  that  she  must  very  soon 
strike  if  the  other  vessels  were  not  brought  up,  gave 
up  the  command  of  the  Lawrence  to  Lieutenant 
Yarnall,  and,  jumping  into  a  boat,  ordered  it  to  be 
steered  for  the  Niagara,  to  which  vessel  he  had 
determined  to  shift  his  flag.  In  passing  from  the 
Lawrence  to  the  Niagara  he  stood  up,  waving  his 
sword  and  gallantly  cheering  his  men,  under  a 
shower  of  balls  and  bullets.  He  gained  the  Niagara 
unhurt  at  the  moment  the  flag  of  the  Lawrence 
came  down ;  and,  the  wind  having  at  that  instant 
increased,  he  brought  her  into  action,  and  at  forty- 
five  minutes  past  two  gave  signal  for  the  whole  fleet 
to  close. 

All  the  vessels  were  now  engaged;  but,  as  the 
superiority  of  the  enemy  had  been  increased  by  the 
loss  of  the  Lawrence,  the  commodore  determined  on 
piercing  his  line  with  the  Niagara.  He  therefore  reso 
lutely  bore  up,  and,  passing  ahead  of  the  Detroit, 
Queen  Charlotte,  and  Lady  Prevost,  poured  a  galling 
and  destructive  fire  into  each  from  his  starboard  side, 
and  into  the  Chippewa  and  Little  Belt  from  his  lar 
board.  He  was  then  within  half  pistol-shot,  and,  as 
he  cut  through  the  line,  the  commander  of  the  Lady 
Prevost,  a  brave  officer,  who  had  distinguished  him- 


214 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


self  at  the  battle  of  the  Nile,  received  a  musket-ball 
in  the  face,  and  the  crew,  being  unable  to  stand  the 
fire,  immediately  ran  below.  At  this  moment  the 
Caledonia  was  struggling  to  get  closer  into  the  ac 
tion,  and  her  commander,  Lieutenant  Turner,  ordered 
her  guns  to  be  fired  through  the  foresail,  which  in 
terfered  between  him  and  the  enemy,  rather  than 


BATTLE    OF     LAKE     ERIE. 


lose  the  chance  of  a  full  share  in  the  combat,  and 
was  only  prevented  from  attempting  to  board  the 
Detroit  by  the  prudent  refusal  of  the  officer  of 
another  small  vessel  to  assist  him. 

The  action  was  now  raging  with  its  utmost  vio 
lence, — every  broadside  fired  with  the  most  exact 
precision,  and  the  result  of  the  conflict  altogether 
uncertain.  In  addition  to  the  loss  of  the  Lawrence's 


NATAL     EXPLOITS.  215 

guns,  one  of  the  Ariel's  had  bursted,  and  the  enemy 
had  then  the  superiority  of  thirty-four  guns.  This 
doubtful  aspect,  however,  soon  after  changed.  The 
Queen  Charlotte  had  lost  her  captain  and  all  her 
principal  officers ;  and  having,  by  some  mischance, 
run  foul  of  the  Detroit,  most  of  the  guns  of  both 
vessels  became  useless.  In  this  situation,  advantage 
of  which  was  immediately  taken  by  Commodore 
Perry,  they  were  compelled  to  sustain,  in  turn,  an  in 
cessant  fire  from  the  Niagara  and  other  vessels  of  the 
American  squadron.  The  British  commodore's  flag  was 
soon  after  struck,  and  those  of  the  Queen  Charlotte 
and  Lady  Prevost,  the  Hunter,  and  the  Chippewa, 
came  down  in  immediate  succession.  The  whole 
fleet  surrendered  to  the  inferior  squadron,  with  the 
exception  of  the  Little  Belt,  which  attempted  to 
escape,  but  was  pursued  by  two  of  the  gun-boats 
and  captured  at  a  distance  of  three  miles  from  the 
squadron. 

Thus,  after  an  action  of  three  hours,  in  which  the 
individual  gallantry  of  either  fleet  had  never  been 
surpassed  by  any  naval  event  now  to  be  found  on 
the  record  of  history,  was  the  entire  command  of 
this  important  lake  yielded  to  the  American  arms. 


216 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


COLONEL    JOHNSON. 


BATTLE   OF   THE   THAMES. 

THE  victory  gained  by  Commodore  Perry  on  Lake 
Erie  gave  many  advantages  to  the  army  of  General 
Harrison.  The  pursuit  of  the  enemy  was  instantly 
resolved  upon.  On  the  27th  of  September  the  army 
crossed  the  lake.  Maiden  was  found  wasted  and 
deserted  by  Proctor,  who  had  retreated  by  the  valley 
of  the  Thames  towards  the  heart  of  Canada.  On 
the  2d  of  October  Harrison  started  in  pursuit  of  the 
enemy,  and,  on  the  5th,  overtook  them.  Proctor's 
position  was  strong.  The  Indians,  under  Tecumseh, 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  217 

were  upon  the  left,  between  the  river  and  a  small 
marsh ;  the  British  regulars,  between  two  marshes 
on  the  right.  Harrison's  order  of  battle  had  been 
determined  when  he  became  aware  that  the  British 
regulars  were  drawn  up  in  open  order,  which  made 
them  liable  to  a  fatal  attack  by  cavalry.  He  in 
stantly  resolved  upon  a  novel  manoeuvre. 

Colonel  James  Johnson,  with  one  battalion  of 
mounted  men,  was  ordered  to  charge  and  break  the 
line  of  regulars  and  then  form  in  their  rear.  This 
was  executed  with  precision.  The  British  were 
broken,  and  the  whole  body,  panic-stricken  by  the 
unexpected  character  of  the  attack,  surrendered  at 
once.  Tecumseh  and  his  Indians  fought  more  ob 
stinately.  The  Kentuckians.  commanded  by  Colonel 
Kichard  M.  Johnson,  were  forced  to  dismount  in  the 
contest.  But  the  fall  of  the  valiant  Tecumseh,  the 
soul  of  his  people,  led  to  the  complete  overthrow  of 
the  Indians.  Within  half  an  hour  the  battle  was 
won,  and  a  detachment  was  in  pursuit  of  General 
Proctor,  who  had  fled  at  the  onset.  Though  5000 
men  were  engaged  in  this  battle,  only  about  40 
were  killed,  most  of  whom  were  Indians.  This  was 
a  splendid  and  decisive  victory.  The  British  army 
was  nearly  all  captured,  and  the  Indians  never  re 
covered  from  the  blow. 


218  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


CAPTAIN    LAWRENCE. 


HOENET   AND   PEACOCK 

ON  the  23d  of  February,  1813,  the  sloop-of-war 
Hornet,  commanded  by  Captain  James  Lawrence, 
while  cruising  near  Dernarara,  discovered  a  brig  to 
the  leeward,  and  chased  her  so  near  the  shore  that 
he  was  obliged  to  haul  off  for  want  of  a  pilot.  Dur 
ing  the  chase,  however,  he  had  discovered  a  vessel  at 
anchor  outside  of  the  bar  of  Demarara  River,  with 
English  colors  flying,  and  now  began  beating  round 
the  Corobano  bank  to  get  at  her;  when,  between 
three  and  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  another  sail 
was  seen  on  his  weather-quarter,  edging  down  for  him. 
As  she  approached  she  hoisted  English  colors,  and 
proved  to  be  the  British  brig  Peacock,  Captain  Peake, 
The  Hornet  was  immediately  cleared  for  action,  and 
kept  close  to  the  wind  in  order  to  get  the  weather- 
gauge  of  the  approaching  vessel.  At  ten  minutes 
past  five,  finding  that  he  could  weather  the  enemy, 
Captain  Lawrence  hoisted  American  colors,  tacked, 
and,  in  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  passed  the  British 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  219 

ship  within  half  pistol-shot,  and  exchanged  broad 
sides.  The  enemy  was  now  in  the  act  of  wearing, 
when  Captain  Lawrence  bore  up,  received  his  star 
board  broadside,  and  ran  him  close  on  board  on  the 
starboard-quarter;  from  which  position  he  kept  up 
so  close  and  bloody  a  fire  that  in  less  than  fifteen 
minutes  from  the  commencement  of  the  action  ^he 
British  struck  their  colors  and  hoisted  a  signal  of 
distress.  Lieutenant  Shubrick  instantly  went  on 
board,  and  found  that  she  was  cut  to  pieces,  her 
captain  killed,  many  of  the  crew  killed  and  wounded, 
her  mainmast  gone  by  the  board,  six  feet  water  in 
the  hold,  and  sinking  very  fast.  The  two  ships  were 
immediately  brought  to  anchor  and  the  Hornet's 
boats  despatched  to  bring  off  the  wounded;  but, 
although  her  guns  were  thrown  overboard,  the  shot- 
holes  which  could  be  got  at  plugged,  and  every  ex 
ertion  made  by  pumping  and  baling  to  keep  her 
afloat,  so  completely  had  she  been  shattered  that 
she  sunk  before  the  prisoners  could  be  removed, 
carrying  down  thirteen  of  her  crew,  as  well  as  three 
men  belonging  to  the  Hornet.  Lieutenant  Connor 
and  the  other  officers  and  men  employed  in  remov 
ing  the  prisoners  narrowly  escaped  by  jumping  into 
a  boat  as  the  Peacock  went  down ;  and  four  seamen 
of  the  Hornet  ran  up  into  the  foretop  at  the  same 
time,  and  were  taken  off  by  the  boats. 

The  Peacock  was  deemed  one  of  the  finest  ships 
of  her  class  in  the  British  navy.  In  size  she  was 
about  equal  to  the  Hornet ;  but  in  guns  and  men 
the  Hornet  was  somewhat,  though  very  little,  her 
superior,  and  by  no  means  so  much  so  as  to  give 
her  any  decided  advantage.  The  loss  on  board  the 


220  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

Peacock  could  not  be  precisely  ascertained.  Captain 
Peake  was  twice  wounded,  the  second  time  mortally. 
Four  men  were  found  dead  on  board.  The  master 
and  thirty-two  others  were  wounded,  three  of  whom 
afterwards  died.  The  Hornet  had  only  one  man 
killed  and  two  slightly  wounded.  Her  rigging  and 
sails  were  much  cut,  but  her  hull  received  very 
little  injury. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


221 


CHESAPEAKE  AND  SHANNON. 

AFTER  the  action  with  the  Peacock,  Captain  Law 
rence  was  promoted  to  the  command  of  the  frigate 
Chesapeake,  then  lying  in  Boston  Harbor.  She 
sailed  on  the  1st  of  June,  1813. 

As  soon  as  she  got  under  way,  Captain  Law 
rence  called  the  crew  together,  and,  having  hoisted 
the  white  flag,  with  the  motto  of  "  Free  Trade  and 
Sailors'  Eights,"  made  a  short  address.  His  speech, 
however,  was  received  with  no  enthusiasm ;  on  the 
contrary,  signs  of  dissatisfaction  were  evident, — par 
ticularly  from  a  boatswain's  mate,  a  Portuguese,  who 
seemed  to  be  at  the  head  of  the  malecontents ;  and 
complaints  were  muttered  that  they  had  not  yet 
received  their  prize-money.  Such  expressions,  at 
the  eve  of  an  action,  were  but  ill-bodings  of  the  re 
sult  of  it;  but  Captain  Lawrence,  ignorant  as  he 
was  of  the  character  of  his  sailors,  and  unwilling  at 


222  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

such  a  moment  to  damp  their  spirits  by  harshness, 
preserved  his  accustomed  calmness,  and  had  prize- 
checks  at  once  given  by  the  purser  to  those  who 
had  not  received  them.  While  this  scene  was  pass 
ing,  the  Shannon,  observing  the  Chesapeake  coming 
out,  bore  away.  The  Chesapeake  followed  her  till 
four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  she  hauled  up 
and  fired  a  gun,  on  which  the  Shannon  hove  to. 
They  manoeuvred  for  some  time,  till,  at  about  a 
quarter  before  six,  they  approached  within  pistol- 
shot  and  exchanged  broadsides. 

These  broadsides  were  both  bloody ;  but  the  fire 
of  the  Shannon  was  most  fortunate  in  the  destruc 
tion  of  officers.  The  fourth  lieutenant,  Mr.  Ballard, 
was  mortally  wounded ;  the  sailing-master  was 
killed,  and  Captain  Lawrence  received  a  musket-ball 
in  his  leg,  which  caused  great  pain  and  profuse 
bleeding;  but  he  leaned  on  the  companion-way  and 
continued  to  order  and  to  animate  his  crew.  A 
second  and  a  third  broadside  was  exchanged,  with 
evident  advantage  on  the  part  of  the  Chesapeake ; 
but,  unfortunately,  among  those  now  wounded  on 
board  of  her  was  the  first  lieutenant,  Mr.  Ludlow, 
who  was  carried  below  ;  three  men  were  successively 
shot  from  the  helm  in  about  twelve  minutes  from 
the  commencement  of  the  action ;  and,  as  the  hands 
were  shifting,  a  shot  disabled  her  foresail,  so  that 
she  would  no  longer  answer  her  helm,  and  her 
anchor  caught  in  one  of  the  after-ports  of  the  Shan 
non,  which  enabled  the  latter  to  rake  her  upper- 
<}eck.  As  soon  as  Lawrence  perceived  that  she  was 
falling  to  leeward,  and  that  by  the  Shannon's  filling 
she  would  fall  on  board,  he  called  his  boarders,  and 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  223 

was  giving  orders  about  the  foresail  when  be  re 
ceived  a  musket-ball  in  his  body.  The  bugleman 
who  should  have  called  the  boarders  did  not  do  his 
duty;  and.  at  this  moment,  Commodore  Bro.te, 
whose  ship  had  suffered  so  much  that  he  was  pre 
paring  to  repel  boarding,  perceiving  from  this  acci 
dent  how  the  deck  of  the  Chesapeake  was  swept, 
jumped  on  board  with  about  20  men.  They  would 
have  been  instantly  repelled ;  but  the  captain,  the 
first  lieutenant,  the  sailing-master,  boatswain,  lieu 
tenant  of  marines,  the  only  acting  lieutenant  on  the 
spar-deck,  were  all  killed  or  disabled.  At  the  call 
of  the  boarders  Lieutenant  Cox  ran  on  deck,  but 
just  in  time  to  receive  his  falling  commander  and 
bear  him  below.  Lieutenant  Budd  —  the  second 
lieutenant — led  up  the  boarders;  but  only  15  or  20 
\vould  follow  him,  and  with  these  he  defended  the 
ship  till  he  was  wounded  and  disabled.  Lieutenant 
Ludlow,  wounded  as  he  was,  hurried  upon  deck, 
where  he  soon  received  a  mortal  cut  from  a  sabre. 
The  marines  who  were  engaged  fought  with  des 
perate  courage ;  but  they  were  few  in  numbers,  too 
many  of  them  having  followed  the  Portuguese 
boatswain's  mate,  who  exclaimed,  it  is  said,  as  he 
skulked  below,  "  So  much  for  not  paying  men  their 
prize-money!"  Meanwhile  the  Shannon  threw  on 
board  60  additional  men,  who  soon  succeeded  in 
overpowering  the  seamen  of  the  Chesapeake,  who 
had  now  no  officers  to  lead  or  rally  them,  and  took 
possession  of  the  ship,  which  was  not,  however,  sur 
rendered  by  any  signal  of  submission,  but  became 
the  enemy's  only  because  they  were  able  to  over 
whelm  all  who  were  in  a  condition  to  resist. 


224  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

As  Captain  Lawrence  was  carried  below,  he  per 
ceived  the  melancholy  condition  of  the  Chesapeake, 
but  cried  out,  "  Don't  surrender  the  ship."  He  was 
taken  down  in  the  wardroom,  and,  as  he  lay  in  ex 
cruciating  pain,  perceiving  that  the  noise  above  had 
ceased,  he  ordered  the  surgeon  to  go  on  deck  and 
tell  the  officers  to  fight  on  to  the  last  and  nevei 
strike  the  colors.  "  They  shall  wave,"  said  he, 
"  while  I  live."  But  it  was  too  late  to  resist  or  to 
struggle  longer;  the  enemy  had  already  possession 
of  the  ship.  As  Captain  Lawrence's  wounds  would 
not  allow  of  his  removal,  he  continued  in  the  ward 
room,  surrounded  by  his  wounded  officers,  and,  after 
lingering  in  great  pain  for  four  days,  during  which 
his  sufferings  were  too  acute  to  permit  him  to  speak, 
or  perhaps  to  think  of  the  sad  events  he  had  just 
witnessed,  or  do  more  than  ask  for  what  his  situa 
tion  required,  he  died  on  the  5th  of  June.  His 
body  was  wrapped  in  the  colors  of  the  Chesapeake, 
and  laid  on  the  quarter-deck  until  they  arrived  at 
Halifax,  where  he  was  buried  with  the  highest 
military  and  naval  honors,  the  British  officers 
forgetting  for  a  moment,  in  their  admiration  of  his 
character,  that  he  had  been  but  lately  their  enemy. 
His  pall  was  supported  by  the  oldest  captains  in 
the  navy  then  at  Halifax,  and  no  demonstration  of 
respectful  attention  was  omitted  to  honor  the  re 
mains  of  a  brave  but  unfortunate  stranger. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


225 


ENTERPRISE   AND   BOXER. 

ON  the  1st  of  September,  1813,  the  brig  Enter- 
prise  sailed  from  Portsmouth  on  a  cruise,  and  on  the 
3d  discovered  and  chased  a  schooner  into  Portland, 
where  he  gained  intelligence  of  several  privateers 
being  off  Manhagan,  and  immediately  stood  for  that 
place. 

The  British  gun-brig  the  Boxer,  of  fourteen  guns 
and  nearly  100  men,  had  been  fitted  up  at  St.  John's, 
New  Brunswick,  for  the  purpose  of  a  combat  with  the 
Enterprise,  mounting  the  same  number  of  guns  and 
very  nearly  the  same  number  of  men.  To  the  crew 
of  the  Boxer,  however,  a  detachment  was  added  from 
the  Rattler  upon  her  arrival  on  the  United  States 
coast.  On  the  morning  of  the  5th  the  Enterprise,  in 
the  bay  near  Penguin  Point,  discovered  the  Boxer  get 
ting  under  way,  and  gave  chase  to  her.  The  Boxer 
fired  several  guns,  stood  for  the  Enterprise,  and 
hoisted  four  ensigns.  Captain  Burrows,  having  as 
certained  her  character,  stood  out  of  the  bay  to 
obtain  sea- room ;  and,  followed  by  the  Boxer,  he 

15 


226  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

hauled  upon  a  wind  until  three  P.M.  At  that  hour 
he  shortened  sail,  and  in  twenty  minutes  the  action 
commenced,  within  half  pistol-shot.  At  the  first 
broadside  Captain  Blythe  was  killed  by  a  cannon- 
shot  through  his  body,  and  in  a  moment  after 
wards  Captain  Burrows  fell  by  a  musket-ball.  The 
command  of  the  two  vessels  during  the  whole  en 
gagement  was  therefore  maintained  by  the  lieute 
nants.  Captain  Burrows  refused  to  quit  the  deck, 
and  at  four  P.M.  received  the  sword  of  Captain 
Blythe  from  the  hands  of  Lieutenant  McCall,  ex 
pressed  his  satisfaction  at  the  manner  of  his  death, 
and  expired  about  eight  hours  afterwards.  The 
colors  of  the  Boxer  had  been  nailed  to  the  mast, 
and  her  first  t  officer  was  therefore  obliged  to  hail 
Lieutenant  McCall  to  inform  him  of  her  surrender 
before  it  was  known  that  she  was  vanquished.  She 
was  immediately  taken  possession  of  and  carried 
into  Portland,  with  her  masts,  sails,  and  spars  cut 
to  pieces,  and  with  twenty  eighteen-pound  shot  in 
her  hull.  The  number  of  her  killed  and  wounded 
could  not  be  ascertained,  no  papers  being  on  board 
by  which  the  strength  of  her  crew  could  be  known. 
Her  officers  admitted  the  loss  of  25  killed  and  14 
wounded.  The  rigging  of  the  Enterprise  was  much 
cut  with  grape-shot,  but  her  hull  was  not  materially 
damaged.  Her  loss  was  one  killed  and  thirteen 
wounded  :  among  the  latter,  the  captain  and  car 
penter's  mate,  mortally.  Lieutenant  Tillinghast 
and  Midshipman  Waters,  the  latter  of  whom  was 
severely  wounded,  behaved  with  coolness  and  deter 
mination ;  and  Lieutenant  McCall,  who  succeeded 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  227 

his  gallant  captain,  sustained  the  reputation  of  the 
navy  by  his  conduct  throughout  the  action. 

On  their  arrival  at  Portland  the  bodies  of  the 
deceased  commanders  were  deposited  with  the  usual 
military  ceremonies,  and  the  prisoners  were  soon 
after  removed  to  the  interior.  Both  vessels  were 
repaired  with  the  utmost  despatch ;  and  the  Boxer, 
being  considered  the  superior  vessel,  was  ordered  by 
the  President  of  the  United  States  to  be  delivered 
up  for  the  benefit  of  the  captors  and  bought  from 
them  into  the  service. 


228  BATTLE-FIELDS     AXD 


MASSACRE  AT   FORT  MIMMS. 

EARLY  in  1812,  Tecumseh,  the  great  Shawnee 
warrior  and  statesman,  appeared  among  the  Indians 
of  the  South,  attended  their  councils,  and  used  all 
his  knowledge  of  their  character  and  his  eloquence 
to  induce  them  to  join  the  Indian  confederacy  of  the 
North  and  its  British  allies.  It  appears  that  his 
efforts  were  at  first  unsuccessful.  But  the  successes 
of  the  British  in  the  North,  and  the  awful  aid  of 
superstition,  effected  Tecumseh's  purpose.  Through 
the  channel  of  Florida  the  British  supplied  the 
Indians  with  implements  of  war  and  presents  of 
goods  highly  valued  by  the  red  men. 

A  large  majority  of  the  Creeks — by  far  the  most 
powerful  of  the  Southern  tribes — were  induced  to 
begin  hostilities  against  the  United  States.  Murders 
and  robberies  were  committed,  and  the  criminals 
were  not  delivered  up  on  demand.  The  inhabitants 
of  the  frontier  were  filled  with  alarm  and  consterna 
tion.  The  people  of  the  Tensaw  district,  on  the 
Alabama,  fled  for  safety  to  Fort  Mimms.  This  post 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS,  2 

was  garrisoned  by  150  volunteers,  under  command 
of  Major  Beasly.  In  the  forenoon  of  the  30th  of 
August,  1812,  Weatherford,  a  Creek  chief  of  great 
talents,  with  about  600  warriors,  surprised  the  fort, 
set  fire  to  the  buildings  it  contained,  and  massacred 
all  within  it  except  17  persons,  who  contrived  to 
escape.  Nearly  400  men,  women,  and  children 
were  put  to  death,  with  circumstances  of  the  utmost 
horror. 

This  terrible  event  spread  consternation  through 
the  neighboring  settlements.  The  inhabitants  fled 
towards  the  other  forts,  leaving  their  dwellings  and 
fields  to  be  destroyed  or  wasted  by  the  savages. 
The  spirit  of  the  people  of  Tennessee  and  Georgia 
was  aroused,  and  prompt  exertions  were  made  to 
punish  the  perpetrators  of  the  massacre. 


230 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


GENERAL    JACKSON. 


BATTLES  OF  TALLUSHATCHES  AND 
TALLADEGA. 

ON   the  2d   of  November,  1813,  Major-General 
Jackson   despatched  Brigadier-General  Coffee  from 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  231 

the  camp  at  Ten-Inlands  with  900  men,  consisting 
of  cavalry  and  mounted  riflemen,  on  an  expedition 
against  the  Tallushatches  towns,  where  a  consider 
able  force  of  the  Creeks  was  concentrated.  Coffee 
arrived  within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  the  town  on  the 
morning  of  the  3d,  where  he  divided  his  force  into 
two  divisions,  and  directed  them  to  march  so  as 
completely  to  encircle  the  town,  which  was  effected 
in  a  masterly  manner.  When  they  arrived  within 
about  half  a  mile  of  the  town  the  enemy  began  to 
prepare  for  action,  which  was  announced  by  the 
beating  of  their  drums,  mingled  with  savage  yells. 
About  an  hour  after  sunrise  the  action  was  brought 
on  by  two  companies  who  had  gone  within  the  circle 
of  alignment  for  the  purpose  of  drawing  the  enemy 
out  from  their  buildings.  As  soon  as  the  two  com 
panies  exhibited  their  front  in  view  of  the  town  and 
gave  a  few  scattering  shot,  the  enemy  formed  and 
made  a  violent  charge  upon  them,  on  which  they 
gave  way,  and  were  followed  by  the  Indians  until 
they  reached  the  main  body,  who  immediately 
opened  a  general  fire,  and  then  charged.  The  In 
dians  now,  in  their  turn,  retreated,  firing,  until  they 
got  around  and  in  their  buildings,  when  they  made 
a  most  determined  resistance,  fighting  to  the  very 
last  moment,  as  long  as  they  could  stand  or  sit,  not 
one  shrinking  01  complaining,  not  one  asking  for 
quarter.  Every  warrior  in  the  town  was  killed,  and 
all  the  women  and  children  were  taken  prisoners, 
except  a  few  who  were  unintentionally  slain  in  con 
sequence  of  the  men  flying  to  the  houses  and  mix 
ing  with  their  families,  and  at  the  same  time  refus 
ing  quarter. 


232  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

The  number  found  killed  of  the  enemy  was  186, 
and  a  number  of  others  were  killed  in  the  woods 
who  were  not  found.  The  number  of  women  and 
children  taken  was  84.  Of  the  Americans  five  were 
killed  arid  41  wounded,  the  greater  part  slightly, 
none  mortally ;  two  of  the  killed  were  with  arrows, 
which  appeared  to  form  a  principal  part  of  the  arms 
of  the  Indians  on  this  occasion,  every  man  having  a 
bow,  with  a  bundle  of  arrows,  which  he  used  after 
the  first  fire  with  his  gun,  until  a  leisure  time  for 
loading  offered. 

Coffee  bestows  much  praise  on  his  men  for  their 
deliberation  and  firmness.  "Notwithstanding  our 
numbers,"  says  he,  awere  far  superior  to  that  of  the 
enemy,  it  was  a  circumstance  to  us  unknown,  and 
from  the  parade  of  the  enemy  we  had  every  reason 
to  suppose  them  our  equals  in  number;  but  there 
appeared  no  visible  traces  of  alarm  in  any.  On  the 
contrary,  all  appeared  cool  and  determined ;  and, 
no  doubt,  when  they  face  a  foe  of  their  own  or  of 
superior  number,  they  will  show  the  same  courage 
as  on  this  occasion." 

The  following  day  General  Coffee  returned  with 
his  detachment  to  the  camp. 

Late  on  the  evening  of  the  7th  a  friendly  Indian 
arrived  at  the  camp,  who  brought  intelligence  that 
the  enemy  had  arrived  in  great  numbers  at  Talla- 
dega,  about  thirty  miles  below  the  camp,  where  160 
men  of  the  friendly  Creeks  had  erected  a  fort,  the 
more  effectually  to  resist  the  efforts  of  the  hostile 
party,  and  where  they  were  now  stationed  with 
their  wives  and  children.  The  messenger  repre 
sented  that,  unless  speedy  relief  could  be  obtained 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  233 

from  the  army,  the  fort  would  certainly  be  taken. 
General  Jackson  immediately  gave  orders  for  taking 
up  the  line  of  march,  with  1200  infantry  and  800 
cavalry  and  mounted  riflemen,  leaving  behind  the 
sick,  the  wounded,  and  the  baggage,  with  a  suffi 
cient  force  for  their  protection.  By  twelve  o'clock 
that  night  the  army  was  in  motion,  and  commenced 
crossing  the  river  opposite  the  encampment,  which 
was  effected  in  a  few  hours,  and  on  the  night  of 
the  8th  the  army  was  encamped  within  six  miles 
of  the  enemy.  At  eleven  that  night  a  soldier  and 
two  Indians,  who  had  be«n  sent  forward  to  recon 
noitre,  returned  with  the  intelligence  that  the  enemy 
were  encamped  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  the 
fort ;  but  they  had  not  been  able  to  approach  near 
enough  to  ascertain  either  their  number  or  precise 
situation.  At  midnight  the  adjutant-general  was 
ordered  to  prepare  the  line  of  march,  and  by  four 
o'clock  the  army  was  in  motion. 

The  infantry  marched  in  three  columns;  the 
cavalry  and  mounted  riflemen  were  in  the  rear, 
with  flankers  on  each  wing.  The  advance  con 
sisted  of  a  company  of  artillery  with  muskets,  and 
two  companies  of  riflemen.  A  company  of  spies 
marched  four  hundred  yards  in  front  of  the  whole, 
to  bring  on  the  engagement.  Having  arrived  with 
in  a  mile  of  the  enemy  at  seven  o'clock,  250  of  the 
cavalry  and  mounted  riflemen  were  placed  in  the 
rear  of  the  centre  as  a  corps  de  reserve,  and  the  re 
mainder  were  ordered  to  advance  on  the  right  and 
left  of  the  infantry,  and,  after  having  encircled  the 
enemy  by  uniting  the  fronts  of  their  columns  and 
keeping  their  rear  connected  with  the  infantry,  to 


234  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

face  and  press  inwards  towards  the  centre,  so  as  to 
leave  the  enemy  no  possibility  of  escape.  The  in 
fantry  were  ordered  to  advance  by  heads  of  com 
panies,  General  Hall's  brigade  occupying  the  right 
and  General  Roberts's  the  left. 

About  eight  o'clock,  the  advance  having  arrived 
within  eighty  yards  of  the  enemy,  who  were  con 
cealed  in  a  thick  shrubbery  which  covered  the 
margin  of  a  rivulet,  received  from  them  a  heavy 
fire,  which  they  immediately  returned  and  then 
charged  arid  dislodged  them  from  their  position. 
The  advance  now  fell  baek,  as  they  had  been  pre 
viously  ordered,  to  the  centre.  On  the  approach 
of  the  enemy,  three  of  the  militia-companies,  having 
given  one  fire,  commenced  a  retreat,  notwithstand 
ing  the  utmost  exertions  of  their  officers.  To  fill 
the  vacancy  occasioned  by  this  retreat,  Jackson  im 
mediately  ordered  up  a  regiment  of  volunteers ;  but, 
finding  the  advance  of  the  enemy  too  rapid  to  admit 
of  their  arrival  in  time,  the  reserve  was  ordered  to 
dismount  and  meet  them.  This  order  was  executed 
with  great  promptitude  and  gallantry;  and  the  re 
treating  militia,  seeing  the  spirited  stand  made  by 
the  reserve,  immediately  rallied,  and,  recovering 
their  position,  poured  in  upon  the  enemy  a  most 
destructive  fire.  The  engagement  now  became 
general;  and  in  fifteen  minutes  the  Indians  were 
seen  flying  in  every  direction.  On  the  left  they 
were  met  and  repulsed  by  the  mounted  riflemen; 
but  on  the  right  it  unfortunately  happened  that  too 
great  a  space  had  been  left  between  the  cavalry  and 
infantry,  by  which  numbers  escaped.  They  were 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  235 

pursued,  however,  for  three  miles,  to  the  mountains, 
with  great  slaughter. 

The  force  of  the  enemy  was  represented  by  them 
selves  at  1080,  of  whom  299  were  left  dead  on  the 
ground,  and  a  great  many  were  killed  in  their 
flight.  It  is  believed  that  very  few  escaped  without 
a  wound.  The  American  loss  was  15  killed  and 
80  wounded. 


236 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


EXPEDITION   TO   THE   HILLIBEE   TOWNS 
AND   THE   TALLAPOOSA   EIVER. 

ON  the  llth  of  November,  General  Cocke,  who 
commanded  the  other  division  of  the  Tennessee 
militia,  ordered  Brigadier-General  White,  with  a  de 
tachment  of  mounted  infantry  and  cavalry,  to  pro 
ceed  from  Fort  Armstrong,  where  this  division  was 
stationed,  on  an  expedition  against  the  Hillibee 
towns  of  the  hostile  Creeks,  on  the  Tallapoosa  Kiver, 
This  expedition  was  completely  successful.  They 
penetrated  one  hundred  miles  into  the  enemy's 
country  and  burned  four  of  their  villages,  three  of 
which  they  found  deserted.  Previous  to  their  ar 
rival  at  the  fourth,  they  learned  that  a  party  of 
the  hostile  Creeks  were  assembled  there.  Having 
marched  the  whole  of  the  night  of  the  17th, 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  237 

surrounded  and  completely  surprised  the  town  at 
daylight  of  the  morning  of  the  18th;  and  of  the 
whole  party,  which  consisted  of  316,  not  one  escaped, 
60  being  killed  and  the  remainder  made  prisoners. 
The  detachment  now  returned  to  camp,  where  they 
arrived  on  the  23d,  having  lost  not  one  drop  of 
blood  in  this  enterprise.  The  country  through 
which  they  marched  was  exceedingly  rough  and 
hilly,  and  they  had  to  pass  several  narrow  defiles, 
where  it  was  necessary  to  use  the  utmost  precau 
tion.  The  troops  and  horses,  likewise,  had  to  be 
subsisted,  in  a  great  degree,  on  such  supplies  as 
could  be  procured  in  the  enemy's  country,  which 
rendered  their  march  more  tardy  than  it  would 
otherwise  have  been. 

The  Georgia  militia,  though  embodied  before  those 
of  Tennessee,  were  not  able,  from  the  want  of  mili 
tary  supplies,  to  proceed  to  active  operations  till  the 
end  of  November.  Brigadier-General  Stewart  had 
been  originally  destined  for  the  command,  as  the 
senior  brigadier ;  but,  family  considerations  inducing 
him  to  decline  its  acceptance,  Brigadier-General 
Floyd  was  appointed  in  his  room. 

Towards  the  end  of  November,  Floyd  received  in 
formation  that  numbers  of  the  hostile  Indians  were 
assembled  at  Autossee,  a  town  on  the  southern  bank 
of  the  Tallapoosa  Kiver,  about  twenty  miles  above 
its  junction  with  the  Coosa.  He  immediately  left 
his  camp,  which  was  situated  on  the  west  side  of 
the  Chattahoochee  River,  and  proceeded  against  the 
enemy  with  950  militia  and  between  300  and  400 
of  the  friendly  Creeks.  On  the  evening  of  the  28th 
the  detachment  encamped  within  nine  or  ten  miles 


238  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

of  the  place  of  destination,  and,  having  resumed  their 
inarch  about  one  next  morning,  at  half-past  six  they 
were  formed  for  action  in  front  of  the  town.  The 
detachment  was  formed  in  two  columns,  with  a  rifle- 
company  on  each  flank  and  a  company  of  artillery 
in  front  of  the  right  column. 

It  was  Floyd's  intention  to  have  completely  sur 
rounded  the  enemy  by  resting  the  right  wing  of  his 
force  on  Canleebee  Creek,  at  the  mouth  of  which  he 
was  informed  their  town  stood,  and  resting  his  left 
on  the  river-bank  below  the  town ;  but,  to  his  sur 
prise,  as  the  day  dawned,  he  perceived  a  second 
town  about  five  hundred  yards  below  that  which  he 
was  preparing  to  attack.  The  plan,  therefore,  was 
instantly  changed:  three  companies  of  infantry  on 
the  left  were  wheeled  to  the  left  en  ec7ielon,  and  ad 
vanced  to  the  lower  town,  accompanied  by  a  rifle- 
company  and  two  troops  of  light  dragoons.  The 
remainder  of  the  force  approached  the  upper  town, 
and  the  battle  soon  became  general.  The  Indians 
presented  themselves  at  every  point,  and  fought 
with  desperate  bravery;  but  the  well-directed  fire 
of  the  artillery  and  the  bayonets  of  the  infantry  soon 
forced  them  to  take  refuge  in  the  outhouses,  thickets, 
and  copses  in  the  rear  of  the  town.  Many,  it  was 
supposed,  secured  themselves  in  caves  previously 
formed  for  this  purpose  in  the  high  bluff  of  the  river, 
which  was  thickly  covered  with  reeds  and  brush 
wood.  It  was  intended  that  the  friendly  Indians 
should  have  crossed  the  river  above  the  town  and 
been  posted  on  the  opposite  shore  during  the  action, 
to  fire  on  such  of  the  enemy  as  should  attempt  to 
escape,  or  to  keep  in  check  any  reinforcements  which 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  239 

might  be  attempted  to  be  thrown  in  from  the  neigh 
boring  towns.  Owing  to  the  difficulty  of  the  ford, 
however,  and  the  coldness  of  the  weather  and  late 
ness  of  the  hour,  this  arrangement  failed,  and  their 
leaders  were  directed  to  cross  Canleebee  Creek  and 
occupy  that  flank,  to  prevent  escapes  from  the 
Tallissee  town.  Some  time  after  the  action  com 
menced,  the  friendly  Indians  thronged  in  disorder 
in  the  rear  of  the  militia,  when  the  hostile  tribes  fell 
on  the  flanks  of  the  detachment  and  fought  with 
great  intrepidity.  By  nine  o'clock,  however,  the 
enemy  was  completely  driven  from  the  plains  and 
the  houses  of  both  towns  wrapped  in  flames. 

It  was  impossible  to  determine  the  strength  of  the 
enemy;  but  from  the  information  of  some  of  the 
chiefs,  which  it  is  said  could  be  relied  on,  there  were 
assembled  at  Autossee  warriors  from  eight  towns  for 
its  defence,  it  being  their  beloved  ground,  on  which 
they  proclaimed  no  white  man  could  approach  with 
out  inevitable  destruction.  Neither  was  it  possible 
to  ascertain  their  loss;  but  from  the  number  which 
were  lying  scattered  over  the  field,  together  with 
those  destroyed  in  the  towns  and  those  slain  on  the 
bank  of  the  river,  whom  respectable  officers  affirmed 
they  saw  lying  in  heaps  at  the  water's  edge,  where 
they  had  been  precipitated  by  their  surviving  friends, 
their  loss  in  killed  alone  must  have  been  at  least 
200,  among  whom  were  the  Autossee  and  Tallissee 
kings.  The  number  of  buildings  burned  is  supposed 
to  have  been  400 ;  some  of  them  were  of  a  superior 
order  for  the  dwellings  of  savages,  and  filled  with 
valuable  articles.  The  Americans  had  11  killed  and 
54  wounded :  among  the  latter  was  General  Floyd. 


240  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

The  detachment  being  now  sixty  miles  from  any 
depot  of  provisions,  and  their  rations  pretty  nearly 
consumed,  as  soon  as  the  dead  and  wounded  were 
properly  disposed  of  the  place  was  abandoned,  and 
the  troops  commenced  their  march  back  to  the  camp 
on  the  Chattahoochee :  a  measure  the  more  necessary 
as  they  were  in  the  heart  of  an  enemy's  country, 
which  in  a  few  days  could  have  poured  from  its 
numerous  towns  hosts  of  warriors.  They  arrived  at 
the  camp  in  safety,  having  marched  120  miles  in 
seven  days. 

On  the  9th  of  December  another  detachment  of 
the  Georgia  militia,  consisting  of  about  530  men, 
under  the  command  of  General  Adams,  marched  on 
an  expedition  against  the  Creek  towns  on  the  Talla- 
poosa  River.  Notwithstanding  the  precautions  which 
they  used  to  prevent  the  Indians  from  hearing  of 
their  approach,  they  found  the  villages  deserted,  and 
were  unable  to  bring  the  enemy  to  action,  though 
their  yells  were  repeatedly  heard  on  both  sides  of 
the  river.  Having  burned  two  of  their  villages, 
therefore,  the  detachment  returned  to  camp. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS, 


241 


TREATY     OF     THE     HICKORY     QROOND. 

FINAL  TREATY  OF  THE   GREEKS. 

ON  the  17th  of  January,  1814,  General  Jackson, 
finding  himself  in  a  condition  to  commence  active 
offensive  operations,  marched  from  his  encampment 
at  Fort  Strother  with  900  volunteers,  who  were  soon 
afterwards  joined  by  360  friendly  Indians,  against  an 
assemblage  of  Creeks  at  the  Great  Bend  of  the 
Tallapoosa.  On  the  evening  of  the  21st  he  fell 
upon  a  large  trail  which  indicated  the  neighborhood 
of  a  strong  force.  At  eleven  o'clock  at  night  his 
spies  came  in  and  informed  him  that  there  was  a 
large  encampment  of  Indians  at  about  three  miles 
distance,  who,  from  their  warwhoops  and  dances, 
appeared  to  be  apprized  of  his  approach,  and  would 

either  commence  a  night-attack  upon  him  or  make 

16 


242  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

their  escape.  Having  received  this  intelligence, 
General  Jackson  put  himself  in  readiness  to  meei 
an  attack  or  pursue  them  as  soon  as  daylight  ap 
peared. 

At  six  o'clock  in  the  morning  a  vigorous  attack 
was  made  upon  his  left  flank,  which  sustained  it 
with  bravery  :  the  action  continuing  to  rage  at  that 
point  and  on  the  left  of  the  rear  for  half  an  hour. 
As  soon  as  it  became  light  enough  to  pursue,  the 
left  wing  was  reinforced  by  Captain  Ferril's  com 
pany  of  infantry  and  led  on  to  the  charge  by  Gene 
ral  Coffee.  The  enemy  was  completely  routed  at 
every  point ;  and,  the  friendly  Indians  joining  in  the 
pursuit,  they  were  chased  about  two  miles  with 
great  slaughter.  The  chase  being  over,  General 
Coffee  was  detached  to  burn  their  encampment;  but, 
finding  it  fortified,  he  returned  to  the  main  body  for 
artillery.  Half  an  hour  after  his  return  a  large 
force  appeared  and  commenced  an  attack  upon  the 
right  flank.  General  Coffee  was  permitted,  at  his 
own  request,  to  take  200  men  and  turn  the  enemy's 
left;  but,  by  some  mistake,  only  54  followed  him. 
With  these  he  commenced  an  attack  on  their  left; 
200  of  the  friendly  Indians  were  ordered  to  fall 
upon  the  enemy's  right  and  co-operate  with  the 
general.  The  Creeks  intended  this  attack  on  Jack 
son's  right  as  a  feint,  and,  expecting  to  find  his  left 
weakened,  directed  their  main  force  against  that 
quarter;  but  General  Jackson,  perceiving  the  object 
of  the  enemy,  had  directed  that  flank  to  remain 
firm  in  its  position,  and  at  the  first  moment  of  attack 
they  were  supported  by  the  reserve  under  Captain 
Ferril.  The  whole  line  met  the  approach  of  the 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  243 

enemy  with  vigor,  and,  after  a  few  fires,  made  a  bold 
and  decisive  charge.  The  Creeks  fled  with  precipita 
tion,  and  were  pursued  a  considerable  distance  with 
a  destructive  fire.  In  the  mean  time  General  Coffee 
was  contending  on  the  right  with  a  superior  force; 
the  friendly  Indians  who  had  been  ordered  to  his 
support,  seeing  the  enemy  routed  on  the  left,  quit 
their  post  and  joined  in  the  chase.  That  being 
over,  Jim  Fife,  with  the  friendly  Indians,  was  again 
ordered  to  support  General  Coffee.  As  soon  as  he 
reached  him  they  made  a  decisive  charge,  routed 
the  enemy,  and  pursued  him  three  miles.  Forty- 
five  of  the  enemy's  slain  were  found.  General  Coffee 
was  wounded  in  the  body,  and  his  aid,  Colonel 
Donaldson,  and  three  others,  slain.  The  next  day 
General  Jackson  commenced  his  return-march  to 
Fort  Strother.  His  men  and  horses  were  exhausted, 
and  he  was  not  furnished  with  either  provisions  or 
forage  for  a  longer  stay.  The  enemy,  supposing 
they  had  defeated  the  general,  hung  on  his  rear; 
and  on  the  morning  of  the  24th,  as  he  was  on  the 
point  of  crossing  Enotachopeo  Creek,  the  front-guard 
having  crossed,  with  part  of  the  flank-columns  and 
the  wounded,  and  the  artillery  just  entering  the 
water,  an  attack  commenced  on  the  rear.  The 
main  part  of  the  rear-guard  precipitately  gave  way, 
leaving  only  25  men,  under  Colonel  Carrol,  who 
maintained  their  ground  as  long  as  possible.  There 
then  remained  on  the  left  of  the  creek,  to  meet  the 
enemy,  the  remnant  of  the  rear-guard,  the  artillery- 
company,  and  Captain  Russell's  company  of  spies. 
Lieutenant  Armstrong,  of  the  artillery,  immediately 
ordered  them  to  form  and  advance  to  the  top  of  the 


244  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

hill,  while  he  and  a  few  of  his  men  dragged  up  a 
six-pounder  amid  a  most  galling  fire  from  more  than 
ten  times  their  numbers.  Arrived  at  the  top,  they 
formed  and  poured  in  upon  their  assailants  a  fire  of 
grape,  and  at  length  made  a  charge  and  repelled  them. 
Lieutenant  Armstrong,  Captains  Hamilton,  Bradford, 
and  McGovock,  fell  in  this  rencontre.  By  this  time 
a  considerable  number  had  recrossed  the  creek  and 
joined  the  chase;  Captain  Gordon,  of  the  spies, 
rushed  from  the  front  and  partially  succeeded  in 
turning  the  enemy's  left  flank.  The  Creeks  now 
fled  in  the  greatest  consternation,  throwing  off  their 
packs  and  every  thing  that  retarded  their  flight,  and 
were  pursued  for  more  than  two  miles.  Twenty-six 
of  their  warriors  were  left  dead  on  the  field.  Gene 
ral  Jackson's  loss,  in  the  several  engagements  of  the 
22d  and  24th,  was  24  killed  and  70  wounded.  After 
the  battle  of  the  24th,  General  Jackson  was  enabled 
to  return  to  Fort  Strother  without  further  molesta 
tion. 

The  Creeks,  encouraged  by  what  they  considered 
a  victory  over  General  Jackson's  forces  in  the  battles 
of  the  22d  and  24th  of  January,  continued  to  con 
centrate  their  forces  and  fortify  themselves  at  the 
Great  Bend  of  the  Tallapoosa.  This  river  forms 
the  northeastern  branch  of  the  Alabama.  Several 
miles  above  its  junction  with  the  Coosa,  is  a  curve 
in  the  river  in  the  form  of  a  horseshoe,  called  by 
the  whites  the  Great  Bend,  and  by  the  Indians 
Emucsau.  The  peninsula  formed  by  the  bend  con 
tains  about  one  hundred  acres,  and  the  isthmus 
leading  to  it  is  about  forty  rods  across;  at  the  bottom 
of  the  peninsula  is  the  village  of  Tohopisca,  con- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  245 

taining  about  two  hundred  houses.  On  this  peninsula 
the  Indians  from  the  adjoining  districts  had  concen 
trated  their  forces  to  the  amount  of  1000  warriors, 
with  ample  stores  of  provisions  and  ammunition, 
and  had  fortified  themselves  with  great  skill,  having 
thrown  up  a  breastwork  consisting  of  eight  tiers  of 
logs  with  double  portholes  across  the  isthmus,  so 
that  an  assailing  enemy  might  be  opposed  by  a 
double  and  cross-fire  by  the  garrison,  who  could  lie 
in  perfect  safety  behind  their  works. 

Considerable  reinforcements  of  volunteers  from 
Tennessee,  and  friendly  Indians,  having  reached 
General  Jackson  on  the  16th  of  March,  he  left  Fort 
Strother  with  his  whole  disposable  force,  amounting 
to  about  3000  of  every  description,  on  an  expedition 
against  this  assemblage  of  Indians.  He  proceeded 
down  the  Coosa,  about  sixty  miles,  to  the  mouth  of 
Cedar  Creek,  where  he  established  a  post  called  Fort 
Williams,  and  proceeded,  on  the  24th,  across  the 
ridge  of  land  dividing  the  waters  of  the  Coosa  from 
the  Tallapoosa,  and  arrived  at  the  Great  Bend  on 
the  morning  of  the  27th,  having  the  three  preceding 
days  opened  a  passage  through  the  wilderness  of 
fifty-two  miles.  On  the  26th  he  passed  the  battle 
ground  of  the  22d  of  January,  and  left  it  three 
miles  in  his  rear.  General  Coffee  was  detached,  with 
700  cavalry  and  mounted  gun-men  and  600  friendly 
Indians,  to  cross  the  river  below  the  bend,  secure 
the  opposite  banks,  and  prevent  escape.  Having 
crossed  at  the  Little  Island  Ford,  three  miles  below 
the  bend,  his  Indians  were  ordered  silently  to  ap 
proach  and  line  the  bank  of  the  river,  while  the 
mounted  men  occupied  the  adjoining  heights,  to 


246  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

guard  against  reinforcements,  which  might  be  ex 
pected  from  the  Oakfusky  towns,  eight  miles  below. 
Lieutenant  Bean  at  the  same  time  was  ordered  to 
occupy  Little  Island  at  the  ford  ing-place,  to  secure 
any  that  might  attempt  to  escape  in  that  direction. 
In  the  mean  time  General  Jackson,  with  the  artillery 
and  infantry,  moved  on  in  slow  and  regular  order  to 
the  isthmus,  and  planted  his  guns  on  an  eminence 
one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  in  front  of  the  breast 
work.  On  perceiving  that  General  Coffee  had  com 
pleted  his  arrangements  below,  he  opened  a  fire 
upon  the  fortification,  but  found  he  could  make  no 
other  impression  with  his  artillery  than  boring  shot- 
holes  through  the  logs.  General  Coffee's  Indians  on 
the  bank,  hearing  the  roaring  of  the  cannon  in  front 
and  observing  considerable  confusion  on  the  peninsula, 
supposing  the  battle  to  be  nearly  wron,  crossed  over 
and  set  fire  to  the  village  and  attacked  the  Creeks 
in  the  rear.  At  this  moment  General  Jackson 
ordered  an  assault  upon  the  works  in  front.  The 
regular  troops,  led  by  Colonel  Williams,  accompanied 
by  a  part  of  the  militia  of  General  Dougherty's 
brigade,  led  on  by  Colonel  Russell,  presently  got 
possession  of  a  part  of  the  works,  amid  a  tremendous 
fire  from  behind  them.  The  advance-guard  was  led 
by  Colonel  Sisler,  and  the  left  extremity  of  the  line 
by  Captain  Gordon,  of  the  spies,  and  Captain  McMarry, 
of  General  Johnson's  brigade  of  West  Tennessee 
militia.  The  battle  for  a  short  time  was  obstinate, 
and  fought  musket-to-musket  through  the  port 
holes,  when  the  assailants  succeeded  in  getting  pos 
session  of  the  opposite  side  of  the  works,  and  the 
contest  ended.  The  Creeks  were  entirely  routed; 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  247 

and  the  whole  margin  of  the  river  strewed  with  the 
slain.  The  troops  under  General  Jackson,  and 
General  Coffee's  Indians,  continued  the  work  of 
destruction  as  long  as  there  was  a  Creek  to  be 
found.  General  Coffee,  on  seeing  his  Indians  cross 
ing  over,  had  ordered  their  places  to  be  supplied  on 
the  bank  by  his  riflemen ;  and  every  Indian  that 
attempted  to  escape  by  swimming  the  river  or 
crossing  the  Little  Island  below  was  met  and  slain 
by  General  Coffee's  troops,  The  battle,  as  long  as 
any  appearance  of  resistance  remained,  lasted  five 
hours;  the  slaughter  continued  until  dark,  and  was 
renewed  the  next  morning,  when  16  more  of  the 
unfortunate  savages  were  hunted  out  of  their  hiding- 
places  and  slain.  Five  hundred  and  fifty-seven 
warriors  were  found  dead  on  the  peninsula,  among 
whom  was  their  famous  prophet  Manahell,  and  two 
others,  the  principal  instigators  of  the  war;  250 
more  were  estimated  to  have  been  killed  in  crossing 
the  river,  and  at  other  places,  which  were  not  found. 
General  Jackson's  loss  was  26  white  men  and  23 
Indians  killed,  and  107  white  men  and  47  Indians 
wounded. 

This  was  a  decisive  stroke.  The  power  of  the 
Creeks  was  crushed  forever,  and  the  miserable 
remnant  of  the  hostile  party,  under  their  bold, 
eloquent,  and  indomitable  chief,  Weatherford,  wan 
dered  about  the  country,  hunted  like  wild  beasts. 
Soon  after  the  victory,  General  Jackson  retired  to 
the  Hickory  Ground,  at  which  place  terms  of  peace 
were  settled,  Weatherford,  by  his  dignified  conduct, 
securing  an  unexpected  degree  of  favor  for  hie 
people. 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


BATTLE   OF   CHIPPEWA. 

FROM  this  period  until  the  commencement  of  July, 
1814,  the  hostile  armies  lay  comparatively  inactive. 
Soon  after  his  arrival  at  Sackett's  Harbor  from 
French  Mills,  General  Brown  put  his  troops  in 
motion  for  the  Niagara  frontier;  but,  after  proceed 
ing  some  distance,  he  returned  to  the  former  post. 
At  this  place  he  remained,  assiduously  employed  in 
disciplining  and  organizing  his  troops,  until  he  re 
ceived  orders  from  the  government  to  assemble  a 
division  of  the  army  at  Black  Rock  and  Buffalo, 
with  a  view  to  the  recovery  of  Fort  Niagara,  which 
still  remained  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  and  to  the 
capture  of  the  British  posts  in  the  peninsula.  His 
force,  which  consisted  of  between  3000  and  4000 
men,  was  composed  of  two  brigades  of  regulars,  with 
artillery,  the  tirst  brigade  commanded  by  Brigadier- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  249 

General  Scott,  nnd  the  second  by  Brigadier-General 
Ripley,  together  with  a  body  of  volunteers  from 
New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  under  General  Porter. 
The  comrnander-in-chief,  General  Brown,  had  re 
cently  been  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major-general. 
With  this  army,  therefore,  the  best-appointed,  per 
haps,  and  most  efficient  of  any  that  had  been  yet 
assembled,  was  the  last  campaign  of  the  war  on  this 
frontier  commenced. 

The  first  attack  made  by  this  force  was  on  the 
British  fort  of  Erie,  opposite  to  Black  Rock.  On 
the  2d  of  July,  at  midnight,  the  whole  army  em 
barked  in  boats  from  the  latter  place,  and  the  next 
morning  landed  on  the  enemy's  shore.  Prepara 
tions  were  immediately  made  for  the  assault  of  the 
fort;  but  it  surrendered  before  the  artillery  could 
be  planted  against  it.  The  garrison,  to  the  num 
ber  of  137,  were  made  prisoners  of  war. 

The  British  troops  in  the  vicinity  were  at  this 
period  encamped  in  a  strong  position  at  Chippewa, 
and  were  supposed  to  amount  to  about  3000  men, 
who  were  commanded  by  Major-General  Riall.  To 
the  attack  of  this  place  General  Brown  moved  his 
army  on  the  succeeding  day,  leaving  behind  him  a 
bmall  garrison  in  Fort  Erie,  and  encamped  in  the 
evening  in  a  favorable  position,  within  two  miles  of 
the  enemy's  works.  On  the  morning  of  the  5th 
the  American  pickets  were  repeatedly  attacked  by 
parties  of  the  enemy;  and  General  Porter  was  de 
spatched  in  the  afternoon  to  gain  the  rear  of  these 
skirmishers,  and,  by  cutting  them  off,  bring  on  an 
engagement  of  the  main  body.  General  Riall,  about 
the  same  time,  moved  out  of  his  works  with  his 


250  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

whole  force,  and  soon  fell  in  with  General  Porter's 
command.  Perceiving  this  movement,  General 
Brown  ordered  the  first  brigade  and  Towson's  artil 
lery  to  advance  and  engage  the  enemy  on  the  plains 
of  Chippewa :  and  in  a  few  minutes  a  warm  action 
commenced. 

The  left  of  the  American  position  was  occupied 
by  General  Porter's  brigade  of  volunteers,  who,  un 
able  to  withstand  the  fire  of  the  British  regulars, 
gave  way,  and  exposed  that  flank  of  General  Scott's 
brigade.  To  prevent  the  enemy  from  assailing  it, 
General  Brown  now  ordered  up  the  brigade  of  Gene 
ral  Ripley,  with  directions  to  skirt  the  wood  on  the 
left  and  endeavor  to  gain  the  rear  of  the  British 
right.  After  a  most  severe  and  arduous  conflict, 
Major  Jessup,  who  commanded  a  battalion  on  the 
left  flank,  succeeded  in  gaining  a  position,  from 
whence  he  opened  so  galling  a  fire  as  to  cause  the 
enemy's  right  to  fall  back.  In  the  mean  time  the 
brigade  of  General  Scott  had  continued  to  advance 
against  the  powerful  resistance  of  the  enemy,  who 
now,  finding  his  efforts  repulsed  at  every  point,  gra 
dually  retired,  until  he  reached  the  sloping  ground 
in  the  vicinity  of  Chippewa,  where,  being  hard 
pressed  by  the  victors,  his  retreat  was  changed  into 
a  rapid  and  disorderly  flight.  The  advance  of  the 
Americans  was,  however,  checked  by  the  batteries 
at  Chippewa,  behind  which  the  British  troops  had 
rallied.  General  Brown  now  ordered  up  the  artil 
lery,  with  a  view  of  forcing  the  works ;  but,  finding 
the  day  to  be  nearly  spent  and  the  batteries  of  the 
enemy  strongly  fortified,  he  drew  off  his  forces  and 
retired  to  the  camp. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  251 

In  proportion  to  the  numbers  engaged,  the  loss  of 
men  in  this  action  was  unusually  great.  The  official 
report  of  General  Brown  stated  the  killed,  wounded, 
and  missing  of  the  American  army  to  amount  to 
328.  That  of  the  British  troops  appears,  from  the 
statement  of  General  Drummond,  to  have  amounted 
to  133  killed,  320  wounded,  and  46  prisoners,  among 
whom  were  many  officers  of  rank.  Few  of  the 
American  officers  were  wounded,  and  not  one  killed, 
although  their  conduct  was  such  as  to  call  forth  the 
highest  encomiums  of  their  commander.  Generals 
Scott  and  Bipley,  and  Majors  Jessup,  Leavenworth, 
and  McNeill,  and  many  others,  were  specially  noticed, 
in  the  official  report,  in  terms  of  high  praise. 


252 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


BATTLES  OF  BRIDGEWATER  AND 
NIAGARA. 

ON  the  25th  of  July,  1814,  General  Brown  was 
informed  that  the  British  army  had  moved  to 
Queenstown  in  considerable  force,  and  was  landing 
a  party  at  Lewistown  for  the  purpose  of  attacking 
the  town  of  Schlosser  and  capturing  the  stores  of 
his  army.  With  the  expectation  of  drawing  him 
off  from  this  attempt,  General  Scott  was  despatched 
on  the  road  to  Queenstown,  with  his  own  brigade, 
Towson's  artillery,  and  the  dragoons.  At  four  in 
the  afternoon  this  detachment  moved  from  the 
camp,  and,  having  proceeded  about  two  miles,  dis 
covered  the  enemy  posted  on  an  eminence  of  con 
siderable  strength  at  a  place  called  Bridgewater, 
having  the  Queenstown  Road  in  their  front,  the 
position  being  defended  by  a  formidable  battery  of 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  253 

nine  pieces  of  artillery.  Between  this  post  and 
General  Scott's  advance  was  a  narrow  strip  of  wood. 
He  immediately  determined  to  attack  the  enemy, 
and,  after  despatching  an  express  to  camp  for  a 
reinforcement,  formed  his  small  party  in  a  plain  in 
front  of  the  British  position.  The  artillery,  under 
Captain  Towson,  opened  a  cannonade,  which  was 
returned  by  the  enemy's  batteries  with  great  effect ; 
and  an  action  commenced  and  was  supported  more 
than  an  hour,  by  the  first  brigade,  against  greatly- 
superior  numbers.  The  llth  and  22d  regiments, 
having  expended  their  ammunition,  fell  back,  both 
of  their  commanding  and  most  of  the  inferior 
officers  being  wounded.  The  brunt  of  the  engage 
ment  then  fell  on  the  9th,  commanded  by  Colonel 
Leavenworth,  which  suffered  severely  from  the 
enemy's  fire.  In  the  mean  time  the  25th  regiment, 
under  Major  Jessup,  which  had  been  placed  on  the 
right  of  the  American  line,  finding  the  road  which 
led  to  the  rear  of  the  enemy's  left  unoccupied, 
moved  along  it,  and  threw  itself  on  the  rear  with 
such  signal  success  as  to  capture  General  Riall  and 
many  other  officers  and  to  cause  the  flight  of  a  great 
part  of  their  line.  The  enemy's  batteries,  however, 
still  continued  a  heavy  fire,  before  which  the  ranks 
of  General  Scott's  brigade  were  rapidly  thinning; 
and,  reduced  as  it  was  in  numbers,  it  was  evident 
that  it  could  not  withstand  the  assault  of  a  fresh 
body  of  troops  which  the  British  commander, 
ignorant  of  the  small  amount  of  troops  opposed  to 
him,  had  ordered  up.  In  this  critical  situation  of 
affairs,  day  being  now  spent  and  its  light  partially 
supplied  by  the  moon,  the  second  brigade,  under 


254  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

General  Ripley,  arrived  in  time  to  retrieve  the 
fortune  of  the  day.  Hearing,  while  at  the  camp, 
the  fire  of  musketry  and  cannon,  it  was  immediately 
put  in  motion,  and  received  orders  from  General 
Brown  to  advance  to  the  support  of  the  first 
brigade,  to  which  it  immediately  hastened.  The 
order  was  rapidly  complied  with ;  and,  when  the 
troops  arrived  on  the  field,  General  Eipley  was 
directed  by  General  Brown  to  form  on  the  right  of 
the  first  brigade.  Perceiving  the  exhausted  state 
of  that  body  and  the  nature  of  the  enemy's  position, 
General  Ripley  determined  to  depart  from  his 
orders,  a  literal  compliance  with  which  would,  in 
all  probability,  have  placed  his  brigade  in  the  same 
dangerous  situation  with  that  of  General  Scott.  He 
saw  that  the  position  of  the  enemy's  artillery  on 
the  eminence  was  the  great  source  of  annoyance  to 
the  American  army,  and  unless  that  should  be 
carried  their  defeat  might  be  considered  as  certain. 
He  determined,  therefore,  to  place  his  own  brigade 
between  that  of  General  Scott  and  the  enemy's 
battery  and  endeavor  to  get  possession  of  the  latter. 
Forming,  therefore,  the  two  regiments  of  which  his 
brigade  was  composed  in  the  intended  situation,  he 
directed  Colonel  Miller  to  lead  the  21st  regiment 
immediately  up  to  the  cannon,  while  he  himself,  at 
the  head  of  the  23d,  moved  to  the  attack  of  the 
infantry  on  the  left.  This  order  was  executed  by 
the  21st  with  a  degree  of  gallantry  never  exceeded 
in  any  previous  combat,  and  which  shed  the  highest 
glory  upon  that  regiment  and  its  gallant  commander. 
In  a  few  moments  the  enemy's  cannon  were  in  his 
possession;  and  such  was  the  valor  of  the  assail- 


NATAL     EXPLOITS.  255 

ants  and  the  resolution  of  the  enemy  that  the 
artillery-men  were  bayoneted  while  in  the  act  01 
firing  their  pieces.  Exactly  at  the  same  moment 
General  Ripley,  with  the  23d  regiment,  which  had 
at  first  faltered  before  the  destructive  fire  of  the 
enemy,  attacked  the  infantry  and  drove  them  from 
the  crest  of  the  eminence.  The  enemy's  position 
was  thus  gained,  after  a  most  sanguinary  contest; 
and  the  line  of  the  second  brigade  formed  in  front 
of  the  captured  cannon,  with  the  1st  regiment  and 
General  Porter's  volunteers  on  the  left  and  the  25th 
regiment  on  the  right,  the  American  artillery  being 
between  that  regiment  and  the  23d. 

Mortified  by  his  expulsion  from  the  eminence,  and 
having  received  an  accession  of  fresh  troops,  the 
enemy  now  brought  up  his  whole  force  and  made  a 
resolute  and  determined  attempt  to  recover  his  posi 
tion.  He  was  received  with  equal  gallantry  by  the 
second  brigade,  and,  after  a  close  contest  of  bayonets, 
was  driven  down  the  hill.  The  attack  was  renewed 
a  second  time  with  no  better  success ;  and  at  last, 
about  midnight,  a  third  and  final  attempt  was  made, 
which  was  not  defeated  until  after  great  loss  on  both 
sides.  The  firing  then  ceased  in  every  direction, 
the  British  troops  having  been  withdrawn,  leaving 
their  opponents  in  possession  of  the  field.  The 
brigade  of  General  Scott  had,  while  this  contest 
was  continued,  been  reformed,  and,  passing  through 
an  opening  of  General  Ripley's  line,  made  an  un 
successful  charge  upon  the  enemy's  right  flank ;  and 
afterwards,  participating  in  the  conflict,  it  took  post 
on  the  left. 

In  this  severe  engagement  Generals  Brown  and 


256  BATTLE-FIELDS     1XD 

Scott  were  both  wounded  and  compelled  to  leave 
the  field.  The  command  therefore  devolved  upon 
General  Kipley,  who,  with  this  information,  received 
directions  from  General  Brown  to  collect  the  wounded 
and  return  to  carnp.  Unfortunately,  no  means  were 
at  hand  for  the  removal  of  the  captured  artillery. 
Most  of  the  horses  had  been  killed,  and  the  troops 
were  so  much  exhausted  as  to  render  the  removal 
of  the  cannon  by  hand  impracticable.  They  were, 
therefore,  reluctantly  left  on  the  ground,  having 
been  previously  spiked  and  otherwise  injured.  The 
wounded  being  collected  and  the  shattered  remains 
of  the  army  consolidated,  the  line  of  march  was 
taken  up  in  good  order  for  the  camp.  The  loss  of 
men  was  remarkably  equal  in  number  on  both 
sides ;  but.  from  the  inferior  numerical  force  of  the 
Americans,  it  fell  more  severely  on  them. 

Of  the  British  84  were  killed,  of  whom  5  were 
officers,  559  wounded,  including  Generals  Drum- 
mond  and  Riall  and  39  other  officers,  and  234 
missing  and  prisoners :  in  all,  878.  Of  the  Ame 
ricans  860  were  killed,  wounded,  or  missing. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


257 


SIEGE  OF  FOKT  ERIE. 

THE  capture  of  Major-General  Riall  and  many 
other  of  the  enemy's  officers  was  owing  to  the  enter 
prise  and  skill  of  Major  Jessup, —  one  of  the  most 
gallant  and  accomplished  of  soldiers,  whose  humanity 
was  as  strongly  displayed  on  this  occasion  as  his 
valor.  To  the  judgment  of  General  Ripley  and  the 
unsurpassed  steadiness  of  his  brigade,  particularly 
of  the  21st  regiment,  under  Colonel  Miller,  the  final 
success  of  the  day  seems  to  have  been  greatly  owing; 
and  the  storming  of  the  heights  of  Bridge  water  will 
long  be  remembered  among  the  most  gallant  achieve 
ments  in  the  American  annals. 

The  remains  of  the  army  having  been  marched 
back  to  the  camp,  General  Ripley  received  directions 
from  General  Brown  to  refresh  the  troops  and  return 

to  the  field  of  battle  in  the  morning,  there  to  be 

17 


258  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

governed  by  circumstances.  Accordingly,  at  dawn 
on  the  succeeding  day  the  troops  were  put  in  motion 
for  that  purpose ;  but  General  Ripley,  having  ascer 
tained  that  the  enemy  was  strongly  posted  in  front 
and  his  line  nearly  double  that  of  the  Americans, 
his  own  force  being  reduced  to  1600  men,  resolved 
to  disobey  his  instructions  and  avoid  a  contest  with 
an  enemy  of  such  superior  force.  He  therefore 
broke  up  his  camp  at  Chippewa,  and,  destroying  the 
bridges  in  his  rear,  retreated  to  Fort  Erie,  and 
immediately  proceeded  to  strengthen  and  extend  its 
defences. 

This  wise  and  judicious  retreat,  which  was  severely 
censured  at  the  time,  probably  saved  the  remains 
of  this  gallant  army  from  entire  destruction.  The 
enemy,  to  the  number  of  about  5000  men,  soon 
afterwards  followed  his  footsteps  and  appeared  before 
Fort  Erie,  to  which  they  began  to  lay  a  regular 
siege.  In  the  mean  time,  by  the  indefatigable  ex 
ertions  of  the  American  troops,  the  fort  was  put  in 
a  better  state  of  defence,  although  still  imperfect. 
The  main  camp  of  the  enemy  was  distant  about  two 
miles  from  the  American  fortifications,  around  which 
they  now  commenced  a  double  line  of  intrench- 
ments,  supported  by  block-houses. 

On  the  5th  of  August — the  day  after  the  com 
mencement  of  the  siege — General  Gaines  arrived 
from  Sackett's  Harbor,  and,  being  the  senior  officer, 
took  the  command.  From  this  day  to  the  14th 
nothing  material  occurred,  the  enemy  being  em 
ployed  in  cannonading  the  American  batteries  and 
drawing  closer  their  lines  of  circumvallation.  At 
length,  on  the  evening  of  that  day,  an  unusual 


HAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


259 


GENERAL    TOW8O». 


2GO  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

degree  of  activity  being  observed  in  the  British 
camp,  it  was  conjectured  that  an  assault  would  be 
attempted ;  and  preparations  were  therefore  made 
to  receive  it.  At  two  in  the  morning  of  the  15th 
the  British  troops  moved  from  their  intrenchments 
in  three  columns, — the  right  under  Colonel  Fischer, 
the  centre  and  left  under  Colonels  Drummond  and 
Scott.  The  approach  of  the  right  column  was  soon 
perceived  on  the  American  left,  which  was  defended 
by  the  21st  regiment  and  Towson's  artillery,  be 
tween  whom  and  the  enemy  only  a  line  of  loose 
brush  intervened.  The  column  was  permitted  to 
approach  within  a  short  distance,  when  so  destruc 
tive  a  fire  was  opened  upon  it  that  it  fell  back  in 
confusion.  The  attempt  was  four  times  renewed, 
with  no  greater  success ;  and  the  enemy  at  last 
broke  and  fled  to  the  encampment. 

In  the  mean  time  the  left  and  centre  columns 
had  advanced  at  the  same  moment  to  the  assault. 
The  former  were  received  by  the  9th  regiment,  the 
artillery  of  Captain  Douglass,  and  two  companies  of 
volunteers,  of  New  York  and  Pennsylvania,  and 
retreated  after  the  first  fire.  The  efforts  of  the 
centre  column,  however,  were  more  steady  and  suc 
cessful.  Being  covered  in  a  great  measure  by  a 
ravine,  they  suddenly  emerged,  and,  placing  scaling- 
ladders  to  the  wall,  ascended  the  parapet,  and,  after 
a  sanguinary  struggle,  in  which  they  were  twice 
repulsed,  succeeded  for  a  short  time  in  establishing 
themselves  in  the  bastion.  At  this  moment  an 
explosion  took  place  under  the  platform  which  de 
stroyed  great  numbers  of  both  armies  and  caused 
the  sudden  and  confused  flight  of  the  enemy,  whose 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  261 

numbers  were  thinned  in  their  retreat  by  the  Ame 
rican  artillery. 

In  this  sanguinary  and  protracted  contest,  which 
continued  until  after  daylight,  the  British  troops 
suffered  very  severely.  According  to  the  official 
report  of  their  commander,  57  were  killed,  including 
Colonels  Scott  and  Drummond,  the  leaders  of  the 
left  and  centre  columns,  319  wounded,  and  539 
missing,  of  whom  about  200  were  taken  prisoners. 
The  American  loss  amounted  to  but  84  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing.  Among  the  killed,  however, 
were  Captain  Williams  and  Lieutenant  McDonough 
of  the  artillery,  both  officers  of  great  promise. 

After  this  repulse  the  British  troops  lay  com 
paratively  inactive  for  a  considerable  period.  A 
cannonading  was,  indeed,  kept  up  on  both  sides, 
without  material  consequences.  By  the  bursting 
of  a  shell  General  Gaines  received  a  wound  that 
obliged  him  to  retire  from  the  command,  which  then 
devolved  on  General  Ripley,  and  was  retained  by 
him  until  the  2d  of  September,  when  General  Brown, 
having  recovered  from  his  wounds,  resumed  it. 

The  batteries  of  the  enemy  began  now  to  appear 
every  day  more  formidable ;  fresh  troops  were  con 
stantly  arriving;  and  every  thing  indicated  an 
unfavorable  destiny  for  the  garrison  of  Fort  Erie. 
Considerable  anxiety  was  consequently  excited  in 
the  public  mind  for  the  fate  of  these  brave  men. 
Reinforcements  were,  however,  on  the  march  from 
Plattsburg,  which  was  itself  menaced  by  Sir  George 
Prevost.  The  fire  from  the  batteries  continuing  to 
be  very  severe,  General  Brown  resolved  upon  a 
sortie  for  the  purpose  of  effecting  their  destruction. 


262 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


GENERAL    PORTER. 


The  British  force  consisted  of  three  brigades  of 
about  1500  men  each,  one  of  which  was  alternately 
stationed  at  the  batteries,  while  the  other  two 
remained  at  the  camp,  two  miles  distant.  The 
object  proposed  in  the  sortie  was  the  destruction  of 
the  cannon  and  the  defeat  or  capture  of  the  brigade 
on  duty  before  the  arrival  of  the  reserve.  The 
17th  of  September  was  fixed  upon  for  this  enter 
prise.  At  noon  of  that  day  the  troops  moved  out 
of  the  fort,  in  two  divisions.  The  left,  commanded 
by  General  Porter,  and  consisting  of  the  riflemen 
and  Indians  under  Colonel  Gibson,  and  two  columns, 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  263 

one  under  General  Davis,  the  other  under  Colonel 
Wood,  proceeded,  by  a  road  nearly  opened  through 
the  forest,  to  the  enemy's  right.  The  right  division, 
under  General  Miller,  was  stationed  in  the  ravine, 
between  the  fort  and  the  hostile  lines,  with  direc 
tions  not  to  advance  until  General  Porter  should 
have  reached  the  enemy's  flank. 

The  left  division  advanced  with  so  much  celerity 
that  the  enemy  were  completely  surprised.  A 
severe  conflict,  however,  ensued,  which  in  thirty 
minutes  ended  in  the  capture  of  the  batteries  and 
garrison,  with  the  loss  of  Colonels  Gibson  and  Wood, 
both  of  whom  fell,  gallantly  fighting,  at  the  head  of 
their  columns.  The  noise  of  the  firing  reaching 
the  division  of  General  Miller,  he  immediately 
moved  forward,  and  succeeded,  after  a  close  and 
desperate  contest,  in  carrying  the  batteries  opposed 
to  him,  and  took  possession  of  their  block-houses. 
He  was  now  joined  by  General  Kipley,  who  took 
the  command;  and,  the  remaining  battery  having 
been  captured,  the  troops  were  employed  in  destroy 
ing  the  enemy's  works  and  spiking  his  cannon. 
At  this  moment  General  Ripley  received  a  severe 
wound,  and  the  command  devolved  upon  General 
Miller.  The  object  of  the  sortie  being  accomplished, 
the  whole  body  returned  to  the  fort,  bringing  with 
them  380  prisoners,  and  having  destroyed  the  fruits 
of  forty-seven  days'  labor. 

From  the  spirited  resistance  of  the  enemy,  the 
loss  sustained  by  the  assailants  was,  as  may  be  sup 
posed,  severe.  Of  killed  the  number  amounted  to 
79,  among  whom  was  General  Davis,  of  the  New 
York  militia;  232  were  wounded,  and  216  missing. 


264  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

The  official  report  of  the  British  commander  acknow 
ledged  a  loss  of  609  men,  115  of  whom  were  killed, 
178  wounded,  and  316  prisoners.  The  enemy 
claimed  a  victory;  but  their  retreat,  which  took 
place  a  few  days  afterwards,  palpably  contradicted 
this  pretension. 

The  reinforcements  from  Plattsburg,  amounting 
to  nearly  5000  men,  which  had  taken  a  circuitous 
route  and  were  delayed  a  considerable  time,  arrived 
on  the  9th  of  October  at  Fort  Erie,  and  the  com 
mand  of  the  whole  force  then  devolved  upon  Major- 
General  Izard.  The  enemy  having  fallen  back 
behind  the  Chippewa,  that  officer  moved  from  Fort 
Erie  on  the  14th,  with  the  design  of  bringing  him. 
to  action.  On  the  18th  General  Bissell  was  de 
spatched  with  about  900  men  to  destroy  the  enemy's 
stores  at  Lyon's  Creek,  which  service  he  executed 
after  a  sharp  contest  with  a  detachment  from  the 
enemy's  army  of  about  1200  men  under  the  Mar 
quis  of  Tweedale,  which  he  succeeded  in  repulsing. 
The  army  of  General  Tzard  had,  in  the  mean  time, 
advanced  towards  Chippewa,  where  it  found  the 
enemy  strongly  posted  in  an  intrenched  camp,  from 
which  various  attempts  were  made  to  entice  him, 
without  success.  The  season  being  now  far  ad 
vanced,  it  was  determined  to  withdraw  the  army  to 
the  American  shore.  Fort  Erie  being  therefore 
destroyed,  General  Izard  evacuated  the  Canadian 
territory,  and  distributed  his  troops  at  the  posts  of 
Buffalo,  Black  Rock,  and  Batavia :  and  thus  termi 
nated  the  third  and  last  invasion  of  the  peninsula 
by  the  American  forces. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  265 


COMMODORE    M°DONOUQH. 


BATTLES   OF   PLATTSBURG   AND  LAKE 
CHAMPLAIN. 

IN  the  mean  time,  events  occurred  in  other  quar 
ters  of  the  Union  no  less  honorable  to  the  Ameri 
can  arms.  Sir  George  Prevost,  Governor-General  of 
Canada,  having  collected  all  his  disposable  force  for 
an  invasion  of  the  Union  as  far  as  Crown  Point, 
entered  the  country  on  the  1st  of  the  month  and 
occupied  the  village  of  Champlain.  There  he  issued 
proclamations  tending  to  dissuade  the  people  from 
their  allegiance,  and  inviting  them  to  furnish  the 
army  with  provisions  for  their  further  progress. 
General  Macomb  was  then  at  Plattsburg,  with 
about  2000  American  troops,  many  of  whom  were 
militia.  He  made  able  dispositions  of  his  small  force, 
and  prepared  for  a  determined  resistance  to  the  pro 
gress  of  Prevost.  Simultaneously  with  their  opera 
tions  on  land,  the  enemy  prepared  their  fleet  for 
action  on  Lake  Champlain. 

The   American   fleet,  under   Commodore   McDo- 


266  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

nough,  lay  at  anchor  in  Burlington  Bay,  on  the 
right  flank  of  the  American  lines,  and  two  miles 
distant.  Great  exertions  had  been  made  by  both 
parties  to  produce  a  superior  naval  force  on  this 
lake, — the  Americans  at  Otter  Creek,  and  the  British 
at  the  Isle  aux  Noix.  On  comparing  their  relative 
strength  on  the  llth  of  September,  the  American 
fleet  consisted  of  the  Saratoga,  flag-ship,  mounting 
26  guns;  Eagle,  20  guns;  Ticonderoga,  17  guns; 


BURLINGTON     BAT. 


Preble,  7  guns ;  six  galleys  of  two  guns  each,  12 
guns ;  four  of  one,  4  guns :  making  in  the  whole  86 
guns  and  820  men.  The  British  fleet  consisted  of 
the  frigate  Confiance,  flag-ship,  mounting  39  guns; 
Linnet,  16  guns;  Cherub,  11  guns;  Finch,  11  guns; 
five  galleys  of  two  guns  each,  10  guns ;  eight  of  one, 
8  guns  :  making  in  the  whole  95  guns  and  1020  men. 


NATAL     EXPLOITS.  267 

The  British-land  forces  employed  themselves  from 
the  7th  to  the  llth  in  bringing  up  their  heavy  artil 
lery  and  strengthening  their  works  on  the  north  bank 
of  the  Saranac.  Their  fortified  encampment  was  on 
a  ridge  a  little  to  the  west  of  the  town,  their  right 
near  the  river,  and  their  left  resting  on  the  lake,  one 
mile  in  the  rear  of  the  village.  Having  determined 
on  a  simultaneous  attack  by  land  and  water,  they 
lay  in  this  position  on  the  morning  of  the  llth, 
waiting  the  approach  of  their  fleet.  At  eight  o'clock 
the  wished-for  ships  appeared  under  easy  sail,  mov 
ing  round  Cumberland  Head,  and  were  hailed  with 
joyous  acclamations.  At  nine  o'clock  they  anchored 
within  three  hundred  yards  of  the  American  squa 
dron,  in  line  of  battle, — the  Confiance  opposed  to  the 
Saratoga,  the  Linnet  to  the  Eagle,  thirteen  British 
galleys  to  the  Ticonderoga,  Preble,  and  a  division  of 
the  American  galleys,  the  Cherub  assisting  the  Con- 
fiance  and  Linnet  and  the  Finch  aiding  the  galleys. 
In  this  position,  the  weather  being  perfectly  clear 
and  calm  and  the  bay  smooth,  the  whole  force  on 
both  sides  became  at  once  engaged.  About  an  hour 
and  a  half  after  the  commencement  of  the  action  the 
starboard  guns  of  the  Saratoga  were  nearly  all  dis 
mantled.  The  commandant  ordered  a  stern-anchor 
to  be  dropped  and  the  lower  cable  cut,  by  means  of 
which  the  ship  rounded  to  and  presented  a  fresh 
broadside  to  her  enemy.  The  Confiance  attempted 
the  same  operation  and  failed.  This  was  attende.d 
with  such  powerful  effects  that  she  was  obliged  to 
surrender  in  a  few  minutes.  The  whole  broadside 
of  the  Saratoga  was  then  brought  to  bear  on  the 
Linnet,  and  in  fifteen  minutes  she  followed  the  ex- 


268  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

ample  of  her  flag-ship.  One  of  the  British  sloops 
struck  to  the  Eagle ;  three  galleys  were  sunk,  and 
the  rest  made  off.  No  ship  in  the  fleet  being  able  to 
follow  them,  they  escaped  down  the  lake.  There 
was  no  mast  standing  in  either  squadron  at  the  close 
of  the  action  to  which  a  sail  could  be  attached.  The 
Saratoga  received  fifty-five  round-shot  in  her  hull 
and  the  Confiance  one  hundred  and  five.  The  action 
lasted  without  any  cessation,  on  a  smooth  sea,  at 
close  quarters,  two  hours  and  twenty  minutes.  In 
the  American  squadron  52  were  killed  and  58 
wounded.  In  the  British,  84  were  killed  and  110 
wounded.  Among  the  slain  was  the  British  com 
mandant,  Commodore  Downie.  This  engagement 
was  in  full  view  of  both  armies  and  of  numerous 
spectators  collected  on  the  heights  bordering  on  the 
bay  to  witness  the  scene.  It  was  viewed  by  the  in 
habitants  with  trembling  anxiety,  as  success  on  the 
part  of  the  British  would  have  opened  to  them  an 
easy  passage  into  the  heart  of  the  country  and  ex 
posed  a  numerous  population  on  the  borders  of  the 
lake  to  British  ravages.  When  the  flag  of  the  Con- 
fiance  was  struck,  the  shores  resounded  with  the 
acclamations  of  the  American  troops  and  citizens. 
The  British,  when  they  saw  their  fleet  completely 
conquered,  were  dispirited  and  confounded. 

At  the  moment  of  the  commencement  of  the  naval 
action,  the  British,  from  their  works  on  shore,  opened 
a  heavy  fire  of  shot,  shells,  and  rockets,  upon  the 
American  lines.  This  was  continued  with  little  in 
terruption  until  sunset,  and  returned  with  spirit  and 
effect.  At  six  o'clock  the  firing  on  the  part  of  the 
British  ceased,  every  battery  having  been  silenced 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


269 


GENERAL     UACOMB. 


by  the  American  artillery.  At  the  commencement 
of  the  bombardment,  and  while  the  ships  were  en 
gaged,  three  desperate  efforts  were  made  by  the 
British  to  pass  the  Saranac,  for  the  purpose  of  carry 
ing  the  American  lines  by  assault.  With  this  view, 
scaling-ladders,  fascines,  and  every  implement  neces 
sary  for  the  purpose,  were  prepared.  One  attempt 
was  made  to  cross  at  the  village-bridge,  one  at  the 
upper  bridge,  and  one  at  the  ford-way,  three  miles 
above  the  works.  At  each  point  they  were  met  at 
the  bank  by  the  American  troops  and  repulsed.  At 
the  bridges  the  American  regulars  immediately  drove 
them  back.  The  ford  was  guarded  by  the  vqlun- 


270  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

teers  and  militia.  Here  a  considerable  body  of 
British  effected  a  passage,  and  the  militia  retired 
into  the  neighboring  woods,  where  their  operations 
would  be  more  effectual.  A  whole  company  of  the 
76th  regiment  was  here  destroyed,  three  lieutenants 
and  27  men  taken,  and  the  captain  and  the  rest  of 
the  company  killed.  The  residue  of  the  British  were 
obliged  to  recross  the  river  with  precipitation  and 
considerable  loss. 

At  dusk  the  British  withdrew  their  cannon  from 
the  batteries ;  at  nine  o'clock  sent  off  all  the  artillery 
and  baggage  for  which  they  could  procure  transports ; 
and  at  two  the  following  morning  the  whole  army 
precipitately  retreated,  leaving  their  sick  and  wound 
ed  behind.  Great  quantities  of  provisions,  tents, 
intrenching-tools,  and  ammunition,  were  also  left. 
Much  was  found  concealed  in  the  ponds  and  creeks 
and  buried  in  the  ground.  Their  retreat  was  so 
sudden,  rapid,  and  unexpected,  that  they  arrived  at 
Chazy,  a  distance  of  eight  miles,  before  their  de 
parture  was  known  to  the  American  general.  The 
light  troops  and  militia  were  immediately  ordered 
out  in  pursuit,  but  were  unable  to  make  many  pri 
soners.  Upwards  of  300  deserters  came  in  within 
two  or  three  days  after  the  action,  who  confirmed 
the  account  of  Prevost's  precipitate  flight,  and  as 
sisted  in  discovering  the  property  they  had  con 
cealed  and  left  behind.  The  American  loss  on  land 
during  the  day  was  37  killed  and  82  wounded  and 
missing.  General  Macomb's  official  report  estimates 
the  British  loss  in  land  and  naval  forces  since  their 
leaving  Montreal,  in  killed,  wounded,  prisoners,  de- 
perters,  and  missing,  at  2500. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  271 

The  British  army  engaged  in  this  expedition  con 
sisted  of  14,000  men.  The  precipitate  retreat  of  so 
numerous  and  well-appointed  an  army  from  before  a 
force  of  1500  regulars  and  3000  militia,  suddenly 
called  together,  was  unaccountable  and  wholly  un 
expected.  General  Prevost  endeavored  to  justify 
himself  to  his  government  by  imputing  it  to  the  loss 
of  the  fleet.  But  no  active  co-operation  was  or  could 
be  expected  from  their  respective  fleets  by  either 
army.  The  real  ground  was  that  the  valor  of  the 
American  troops  in  defence  of  their  soil  had  con 
vinced  the  British  general  that  an  attempt  to  pene 
trate  the  country  and  carry  his  original  plans  into 
effect  would  be  attended  with  defeat  and  disgrace. 


272 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


BLADENSBUKG. 


BATTLE  OF  BLADENSBURG  AND  CAP 
TURE  OF  THE  CAPITAL. 

IN  the  Chesapeake  great  devastation  was  com 
mitted,  in  revenge,  as  was  stated,  for  outrages  upon 
the  Canadians.  Early  in  the  year  the  General  Go 
vernment  had  received  information  that  a  powerful 
armament  was  preparing  to  make  a  descent  upon 
the  country  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Chesapeake;  and 
measures  for  defence  were  taken.  General  Winder 
was  placed  in  command  of  the  land-forces  called 
into  the  field  for  the  defence  of  Washington,  and 
Commodore  Barney  in  command  of  a  flotilla  of  gun 
boats  in  the  bay. 

In  August  the  British  fleet,  under  Admiral  Coch- 
rane,  conveying  a  large  army,  under  Major-General 


NATAL     EXPLOITS.  275 

Ross,  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  Potomac.  By 
great  exertions  General  Winder  was  enabled  to 
collect  at  Bladensburg  about  5000  men,  350  of 
whom  were  regulars,  and  several  hundred  marines 
and  seamen  from  Commodore  Barney's  flotilla.  The 
British  troops  were  landed,  and  about  noon  on  the 
29th  of  August  reached  Bladensburg.  An  obstinate 
contest  ensued,  in  which  the  British  suffered  a  severe 
loss  but  compelled  the  Americans  to  give  way. 

As  the  militia  retired,  the  British  regulars  ad 
vanced  upon  the  main  road,  and,  coming  immediately 
in  front  of  Commodore  Barney's  flotilla,  he  opened 
an  eighteen-pounder  upon  them,  which  cleared  the 
road,  and  for  a  time  disordered  their  column  and  re 
tarded  their  approach.  Two  other  attempts  made 
by  the  enemy  to  pass  the  battery  were  also  repulsed, 
and  General  Ross  marched  a  division  of  his  troops 
into  an  open  field  with  a  determination  to  flank  the 
commodore's  right.  This  attempt  also  was  frustrated 
by  Captain  Miller,  of  the  marines,  with  three  twelve- 
pounders,  and  the  men  of  the  flotilla  acting  as  in 
fantry.  After  being  thus  kept  in  check  about  half 
an  hour,  General  Ross  began  to  outflank  the  right 
of  the  battery  in  large  numbers,  and  pushed  about 
300  men  upon  General  Smith's  brigade,  which,  after 
exchanging  a  shot  or'  two,  fled  as  precipitately  as  the 
brigade  of  General  Stansbury.  In  the  panic  pro 
duced  by  this  disorderly  retreat  the  drivers  of  the 
ammunition-wagons  fled  also,  and  Commodore  Bar 
ney's  small  command  was  left  to  contend  against  the 
whole  force  of  the  enemy  with  less  than  one  com 
plete  round  of  cartridge.  To  add  to  the  general  mis- 

Ibrtune  and  to  increase  the  difficulties  even  of  retir- 

18 


274 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


ing  with  credit,  he  had  received  a  severe  wound  in  his 
thigh,  and  his  horse  had  been  killed  under  him  ;  two 
of  his  principal  officers  were  killed  and  Captain  Miller 
and  Sailing-master  Martin  wounded.  The  places  of 


GENERAL     SMITH. 


these  could  be  promptly  supplied  from  the  men  act 
ing  as  infantry;  but  the  means  of  repulsing  the 
enemy  were  expended,  and  the  British  infantry  arid 
marines  were  by  this  time  completely  in  the  rear  of 
the  battery.  Thus  situated,  the  commodore  gave 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  275 

orders  for  a  retreat,  and,  after  being  carried  a  short  dis 
tance  from  the  scene  of  his  gallantry,  he  fell  exhausted 
by  the  loss  of  blood,  and  was  soon  after  made  prisoner 
by  General  Koss  and  Admiral  Cockburn,  who  put 
him  on  his  parole,  and,  having  first  removed  him  to 
their  hospital  at  Bladensburg,  ordered  the  immediate 
attendance  of  their  surgeons  to  dress  his  wound. 

Having  thus  obtained  possession  of  the  pass  of  the 
bridge  over  the  eastern  branch  of  the  Potomac,  the 
enemy  marched  directly  upon  the  capital,  and  im 
mediately  proceeded  to  the  destruction  of  all  the 
spacious  and  splendid  edifices  by  which  it  was 
adorned.  The  Senate-house,  the  Ke  present  ative- 
hall,  the  Supreme  Court  room,  the  President's  house, 
with  all  its  exterior  and  interior  decorations,  and 
the  buildings  containing  the  public  Departments, 
were  very  soon  demolished,  and  several  private 
houses  burned  to  the  ground.  The  plunder  of  in 
dividual  property  was  prohibited,  however,  and 
soldiers  transgressing  the  order  were  severely  pu 
nished.  The  principal  vengeance  of  Admiral  Cock- 
burn — on  whom,  if  the  safety  of  the  citizens'  dwell 
ings  had  alone  depended,  if  he  is  to  be  judged  by 
his  former  conduct,  they  would  have  rested  on  a 
slender  guarantee — was  directed  against  the  printing- 
office  of  the  editor  of  a  newspaper,  from  whose  press 
had  been  issued  frequent  accounts  of  the  admiral's 
depredations  along  the  coast. 

The  navy-yard,  as  well  as  a  new  first-rate  frigate 
and  a  sloop-of-war,  were  destroyed  by  order  of  Go 
vernment  upon  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  to  pre 
vent  the  immense  public  stores,  munitions,  and 
armaments  deposited  there  from  falling  into  his 


276  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

hands.  The  Patent-office  alone,  in  which  were  col 
lected  the  rarest  specimens  of  the  arts  of  the  country, 
escaped  the  insatiate  vengeance  of  a  foe  whose  de 
stroying  arm  was  directed  against  the  most  superb 
monuments  of  architectural  skill  and  public  munifi 
cence.  The  public  documents  and  official  records, 
the  flags  and  various  other  trophies  of  the  repeated 
triumphs  of  the  American  arms,  and  the  specie  from 
all  the  banks  in  the  district,  had  previously  been 
placed  beyond  the  reach  of  the  invaders,  and  they 
returned  from  an  irruption  which  excited  the  in 
dignation  of  all  parties  in  the  Union  and  drew 
forth  the  deprecations  of  the  principal  nations  in 
Europe. 

The  President  and  the  heads  of  Departments,  all 
of  wrhom  had  visited  the  rendezvous  of  the  troops  at 
Bladensburg  the  day  before  the  battle,  finding  that 
the  force  which  had  been  hastily  assembled  did  not 
amount  to  the  number  called  for  by  the  requisitions 
upon  the  adjacent  States,  returned  to  the  metropolis 
to  make  arrangements  for  the  augmentation  of  Gene 
ral  Winder's  army.  This  duty,  which  in  times  of  less 
danger  required  the  exercise  of  great  energy,  could 
not  be  performed  before  the  enemy  had  encountered 
and  defeated  the  corps  already  collected.  The  cap 
ture  of  these  officers  would  have  caused  at  least  a 
temporary  derangement  of  the  Government,  and,  in 
order  that  its  functions  might  be  resumed  imme 
diately  after  the  departure  of  the  enemy,  they  retired 
from  the  metropolis  upon  his  approach.  General 
Winder  had  also  withdrawn  with  the  remnant  of  his 
force  to  Montgomery  Court-house ;  the  citizens  were 
incapable  of  opposing  the  hostile  operations  of  the 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  277 

British  commanders;  and  the  capital  was  therefore 
entirely  at  their  mercy. 

That  division  of  the  enemy's  fleet  which  ascended 
the  Potomac,  consisting  of  eight  sail,  upon  which  were 
mounted  173  guns,  and  commanded  by  Captain  Gor 
don,  was  directed  to  attack  the  city  of  Alexandria. 
As  they  approached  up  the  river,  the  commander  o'f 
Fort  Warburton,  Captain  Dyson,  destroyed  that  post 
and  retired  with  his  artillerists,  and  the  British  squad 
ron  passed  up  to  the  city  without  annoyance  or  im 
pediment.  The  people  of  Alexandria  surrendered 
their  town  and  obtained  a  stipulation,  on  the  29th 
of  August,  from  the  British  commander  that  their 
dwellings  should  not  be  entered  or  destroyed.  The 
condition  upon  which  this  stipulation  was  made  re 
quired  the  immediate  delivery  to  the  enemy  of  all 
public  and  private  naval  and  ordnance  stores ;  of  all 
the  shipping  and  the  furniture  necessary  to  their 
equipment  then  in  port;  of  all  the  merchandise  of 
every  description,  whether  in  the  town  or  removed 
from  it  since  the  19th  of  the  month  ;  that  such  mer 
chandise  should  be  put  on  board  the  shipping  at  the 
expense  of  the  owners ;  and  that  all  vessels  which 
might  have  been  sunk  upon  the  approach  of  the 
enemy  should  be  raised  by  the  merchants  and  de 
livered  up,  with  all  their  apparatus.  These  hard  and 
ungenerous  conditions  were  complied  with ;  and,  on 
the  6th  of  September,  Captain  Gordon  moved  off  with 
a  fleet  of  prize-vessels,  which,  as  well  as  his  frigates 
and  other  vessels  of  war,  contained  cargoes  of  booty. 
In  descending  the  river  he  was  warmly  opposed,  and 
received  considerable  damage  from  two  batteries,  at 
the  White  House  and  at  Indian  Head,  under  the 


278  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

respective  commands  of  Captains  Porter  and  Perry, 
of  the  navy,  the  former  assisted  by  General  Hunger- 
ford's  brigade  of  Virginia  militia  infantry  and  Cap 
tain  Humphrey's  company  of  riflemen,,  from  Jeffer 
son  county,  and  the  latter  by  the  brigade  of  General 
Stewart  and  the  volunteer  companies  of  Major  Peter 
and  Captain  Birch.  The  batteries,  however,  not 
being  completed,  and  mounting  but  a  few  light 
pieces,  could  not  prevent  the  departure  of  the  enemy 
with  his  immense  booty,  though  they  kept  up  an 
incessant  fire  from  the  3d  until  the  6th  of  the  month 
upon  the  vessels  passing  down  on  each  of  those  days. 
Commodore  Rodgers,  too,  aided  by  Lieutenant  New- 
cornbe  and  Sailing-master  Ramage,  made  frequent 
attempts  to  destroy  the  enemy's  shipping  by  ap 
proaching  him  within  range  of  musket-shot  with 
several  small  fire-vessels.  After  the  communication 
of  the  fire  a  change  of  wind  prevented  these  vessels 
from  getting  in  between  the  British  frigates,  though 
they  excited  much  alarm  among  the  fleet,  whose 
men  were  actively  employed  in  extinguishing  the 
flames.  These  respective  forces  were  afterwards 
concentrated,  and  Commodore  Rodgers  took  posses 
sion  of  Alexandria,  with  a  determination  to  defend 
it,  notwithstanding  its  surrender,  against  another 
attempt  of  the  enemy,  whose  fleet  was  not  yet  o'lt 
of  signt  of  the  nearest  battery. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


279 


BOMBARDMENT  OF  FORT  MCHENRY. 

ATTEMPT   OF   THE   BRITISH   ON 
BALTIMORE. 

AFTER  the  embarkation  of  the  troops  under  Gene 
ral  Ross,  whose  loss  at  Bladensburg  amounted  to 
nearly  1000  men  in  killed,  wounded,  prisoners, 
deserters,  and  those  who  died  of  fatigue,  Admiral 
Cochrane  concentrated  the  various  detachments  of 
his  fleet,  and  made  preparations  for  an  attack  upon 
the  city  of  Baltimore. 

As  the  powerful  armament  approached,  the  alarm 
spread  quickly  through  the  adjacent  country,  and  a 
large  volunteer  force  collected,  under  Major-General 
Smith.  The  troops  intended  for  the  land-attack 
were  debarked  upon  North  Point,  fourteen  miles 
below  the  city,  and,  on  the  morning  of  the  12th  of 


280  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

September,  nearly  8000  soldiers,  sailors,  and 
had  effected  a  landing,  while  sixteen  bomb-vessels 
and  frigates  proceeded  up  the  river  and  anchored 
within  two  miles  and  a  half  of  Fort  McHenry. 

General  Smith  detached  General  Strieker,  with 
part  of  his  brigade,  on  the  North  Point  Koad,  and 
Major  Randal,  with  riflemen  and  musketry,  to  the 
mouth  of  Bear  Creek,  to  check  the  progress  of  the 
enemy.  The  light  parties  of  the  Americans  were 
driven  in,  and  the  force,  under  General  Strieker, 
was  soon  engaged  with  greatly-superior  numbers. 
After  an  hour  and  twenty  minutes'  fighting,  the 
Americans  were  compelled  to  retire  to  the  high 
grounds  in  their  rear.  The  enemy  did  not  pursue. 
General  Strieker  was  reinforced,  and  the  Americans 
prepared  their  whole  line  of  intrenchments  and 
batteries  for  their  reception.  On  the  13th  the 
British  army  came  in  sight  of  the  main  body  of 
the  Americans  and  manoeuvred  in  their  front,  driv 
ing  in  the  vedettes.  But,  seeing  the  strength  of  the 
defences  and  the  skilful  dispositions  of  General 
Smith,  they  did  not  attack.  In  the  mean  time  the 
British  vessels  bombarded  Fort  McHenry,  which 
was  bravely  defended  by  its  garrison,  commanded 
by  Major  Armistead.  The  vessels  suffered  con 
siderably  from  the  fire  of  the  American  batteries. 
About  midnight  on  the  13th  the  British  army  re 
treated  to  the  point  at  which  it  landed,  and  re-em 
barked.  The  next  day  the  fleet  dropped  down  the 
river.  The  British  lost  700  men  and  their  general, 
Ross;  the  Americans,  175. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


281 


ATTACK  ON  FORT  BOWYER  AND  CAPTURE 
OF  PENSACOLA. 

IN  the  mean  time  an  attack  was  made  on  the 
remote  Southern  coast,  which  was  the  prelude  to  an 
invasion  of  a  more  important  nature.  After  the 
conclusion  of  the  contest  with  the  Creeks,  the  head 
quarters  of  General  Jackson  were  removed  to  Mobile, 
where,  about  the  end  of  August,  he  received  in 
formation  that  a  body  of  300  British  troops,  with  an 
immense  quantity  of  the  munitions  of  war,  had 
arrived  at  Pensacola,  in  three  armed  vessels,  and 
had  marched  into  the  fort  at  that  place,  then  in  the 
possession  of  the  Spanish ;  and  that  an  additional 
force  of  thirteen  sail-of-the-line,  and  10,000  troops, 
was  daily  expected.  From  Pensacola  Colonel 
Nicholls,  the  commander  of  the  British  forces,  soon 
after  issued  a  proclamation,  addressed  to  the  inhabit 
ants  of  Louisiana,  Kentucky,  and  Tennessee,  recom 
mending  to  them  to  "  throw  off  the  yoke  under 


282  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

which  they  had  been  so  long  groaning  and  put  an 
end  to  the  unnatural  war  by  which  they  were  op 
pressed." 

About  the  same  period,  also,  an  attempt  was  made 
by  the  same  officer  to  engage  in  his  service  a  band 
of  lawless  pirates  who  had  formed  an  establish 
ment  on  the  island  of  Barrataria,  within  the  limits 
of  Louisiana.  The  efforts  of  the  American  govern 
ment  had  been  hitherto  unavailing  to  destroy  this 
nest  of  outlaws.  Mixing  with  the  sanguinary 
audacity  of  the  buccaneer  the  address  and  caution 
of  the  smuggler,  they  had  contrived,  for  a  long  time, 
under  the  government  of  a  chief  named  Lafitte,  to 
overawe  or  elude  the  expeditions  sent  against  them. 
To  these  marauders  the  British  officer  made  a  pro 
posal  of  union  and  alliance,  communicating  at  the 
same  time  important  information  with  respect  to 
his  designs ;  but,  although  proscribed  by  the  Ame 
rican  government,  which  had  set  a  price  upon  his 
head,  Lafitte  would  not  consent  to  act  the  part  of  a 
traitor.  Instead  of  accepting  the  British  offers,  he 
immediately  made  the  whole  known  to  Governor 
Claiborne,  of  Louisiana.  Struck  with  this  proof  of 
magnanimity,  that  officer  promised  a  general  pardon 
to  the  whole  band,  on  condition  of  their  engaging 
in  defence  of  the  country,  at  that  time  menaced  by 
invasion, — an  offer  which  was  joyfully  accepted  by 
the  Barratarians,  who  from  that  time  rendered 
eminent  services  to  the  Republic,  distinguishing 
themselves  particularly  at  the  defence  of  New 
Orleans. 

The  three  vessels  which  had  arrived  at  Pensacola, 
joined  by  another,  soon  after  sailed  from  that  port 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  283 

for  Mobile,  and  on  the  15th  of  September  appeared 
off  Fort  Bowyer.  Mobile  Bay  is  about  thirty  miles 
long,  and  of  considerable  breadth ;  but  its  entrance 
is  only  five  miles  broad,  and  is  completely  com 
manded  by  Fort  Bowyer,  which  is  situated  at  the 
extreme  point  on  the  east  side  of  the  bay.  The 
fort  was  occupied  by  a  small  garrison,  commanded 
by  Major  Lawrence. 

The  British  squadron,  consisting  of  two  ships  and 
two  brigs,  appeared  in  sight  about  noon  of  the  35th, 
standing  directly  for  the  fort.  About  four  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon  the  battery  was  opened  upon  them. 
The  fire  was  immediately  returned  from  all  the  ves 
sels.  A  force  of  110  marines,  commanded  by 
Colonel  Nicholls,  200  Creek  Indians,  headed  by 
Captain  Woodbine,  of  the  British  navy,  and  about 
20  artillerists,  which  had  been  previously  landed  in 
the  rear  of  the  fort,  opened  a  fire  upon  it  from  a 
twelve-pounder  and  a  howitzer;  but  they  did  no 
execution  and  were  soon  silenced  by  a  few  shot. 
The  action  continued  without  intermission  on  either 
side  for  nearly  three  hours,  when  three  of  the  ves 
sels  were  compelled  to  retire.  The  commodore's 
ship,  which  mounted  twenty-two  thirty-two-pound 
carronades,  having  anchored  nearest  the  fort,  had 
her  cable  cut  by  the  shot,  and  was  so  much  disabled 
that  she  drifted  on  shore,  within  six  hundred  yards 
of  the  battery ;  when,  the  other  vessels  being  out  of 
reach,  such  a  tremendous  fire  was  opened  upon  her 
that  she  was  set  on  fire  and  abandoned  by  such  of 
her  crew  as  survived.  Of  a  crew  of  170  men  the 
commander  and  20  men  only  escaped.  On  board 
of  the  other  ship  85  were  killed  and  wounded ;  one 


284  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

of  the  brigs  also  was  very  considerably  damaged, 
but  her  loss  was  not  ascertained.  The  effective 
force  in  the  fort  was  about  120  men;  their  loss  was 
only  4  killed  and  5  wounded.  During  the  hottest 
part  of  the  action  the  flagstaff  was  shot  away,  but 
the  flag  was  immediately  regained,  under  a  heavy 
fire  of  grape  and  canister,  hoisted  on  a  sponge-staff, 
and  planted  on  the  parapet.  The  land-forces  re 
treated  by  land  to  Pensacola. 

The  unprecedented  conduct  of  the  Governor  of 
Pensacola,  in  harboring  and  aiding  the  British  and 
their  Indian  allies  and  in  allowing  them  to  fit  out 
expeditions  against  the  United  States  from  that  port, 
had  been  forcibly  remonstrated  against  by  General 
Jackson,  but  hitherto  without  effect.  Having  been 
reinforced  by  about  2000  Tennessee  militia,  who 
had  marched  to  Mobile  through  the  Indian  country, 
Jackson  advanced  to  demand  of  the  Spanish  autho 
rities  in  Pensacola  redress  for  thus  violating  the 
rules  of  neutrality.  He  reached  the  vicinity  of  that 
post  on  the  afternoon  of  the  6th  of  November,  and 
immediately  sent  a  flag  to  the  governor  to  com 
municate  the  object  of  his  visit.  The  flag  was  fired 
on  and  forced  to  return.  Nothing  remained  now 
but  to  take  possession  of  that  post,  which  had  been 
so  long  a  source  of  annoyance  to  the  United  States. 
General  Jackson  accordingly  commenced  the  attack 
early  on  the  7th.  The  encampment  of  the  Ame 
rican  army  being  to  the  west  of  the  town,  it  was 
natural  for  the  enemy  to  suppose  that  the  attack 
would  be  made  in  that  quarter ;  a  detachment  of  500 
men,  however,  was  ordered  to  move  in  that  direction, 
while,  with  the  main  body,  he  gained  an  opposite 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


285 


and  unexpected  point,  and,  by  hastening  rapidly  on, 
entered  the  town  before  the  garrison  was  aware  of 
his  approach.  They  were  unexpectedly  saluted, 
however,  by  a  battery  formed  in  the  street,  which-, 
after  a  few  volleys,  was  carried  at  the  point  of  the 
bayonet;  and  the  Spanish  and  British  troops  were 
soon  driven  from  all  their  positions.  The  governor 
then  surrendered  the  town  and  forts  unconditionally, 
and  soon  after  signed  a  capitulation  by  which  Pen- 
sacola  and  its  dependencies  were  delivered  up  to  the 
United  States.  The  British,  in  evacuating  the  bay, 
destroyed  the  fortress  of  the  Barrancas ;  and  General 
Jackson  returned  with  his  troops  to  Mobile. 


286 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


FORTIFYING     OP    NEW     ORLEANS. 

BATTLE   OP   NEW  ORLEANS. 

THE  projected  attack  upon  New  Orleans,  which 
it  was  now  certain  the  British  would  attempt,  in 
duced  General  Jackson  to  proceed  to  that  city  with 
his  troops.  He  accordingly  left  Mobile  on  the  22d 
of  November,  and  arrived  at  New  Orleans  on  the 
2d  of  the  succeeding  month.  In  the  situation  in 
which  he  found  that  city,  abundant  occasion  existed 
for  the  display  of  those  warlike  talents  and  that 
mental  energy  with  which  he  was  eminently  gifted. 
The  population  was  composed  of  a  mixture  of  various 
nations,  among  whom  there  was  little  bond  of  union; 
and,  the  country  having  been  but  recently  trans 
ferred  to  the  Republic,  there  was  perhaps  less 
national  attachment  than  in  any  other  quarter. 
Discontent  and  apprehension  pervaded  a  great  por- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  287 

tion  of  the  community;  the  city  corps  refused  to 
turn  out  on  the  requisition  of  General  Flournoy ; 
and  even  the  legislature  of  the  State.,  then  in  ses 
sion,  encouraged  them  in  their  disobedience.  Added 
to  this,  the  important  post  to  be  defended  was  ap 
proachable  in  various  quarters,  and  the  troops 
stationed  at  each  of  these  points  were  insufficient  to 
defend  them.  But  the  intrepid  spirit  of  General 
Jackson  was  unappalled  in  the  midst  of  the  difficul 
ties  with  which  he  was  surrounded.  He  immedi 
ately  adopted  the  most  decided  and  efficient  measures 
for  the  defence  of  the  place.  He  visited  in  person 
every  point  at  which  an  invading  enemy  might  be 
opposed,  and  left  no  point  unfortified  that  could  at 
all  conduce  to  the  great  object  of  defence.  The 
grand  approach  by  the  Mississippi  was  secured  by 
batteries,  and  the  inlets  and  bayous  were  obstructed 
by  all  possible  means.  The  active  and  energetic 
measures  and  the  confident  tone  of  the  commanding 
general  revived  the  spirits  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Louisiana,  which  had  fallen  at  the  prospect  of  inva 
sion  by  so  numerous  an  army  as  that  which  it  was 
ascertained  was  on  their  coast;  and  all  the  true 
lovers  of  their  country  in  the  State  flocked  to  his 
banner,  and  declared  their  intention  of  standing  by 
him  till  the  British  were  expelled  from  their  shores 
or  they  had  died  /or  their  country.  Upon  the  lakes 
to  the  east  of  the  town  a  small  force  of  five  gun 
boats,  under  Lieutenant  Jones,  had  been  collected, 
which,  in  the  narrow  passes,  would,  it  was  supposed, 
be  competent  to  repel  any  force  that  could  be  con 
veniently  brought  against  them. 

Information  having  been  ;rece:'ved  early  in  Decem- 


288  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

her  of  the  arrival  of  sixty  sail  of  vessels  off  Ship 
Island,  Lieutenant  Jones  made  sail  for  the  passes 
leading  into  Lake  Pontchartrain,  where  they  might 
be  opposed  to  advantage.  On  the  14th  the  enemy 
were  discovered,  moving,  in  forty-three  gun-boats, 
with  1200  men,  to  the  attack  of  Lieutenant  Jones's 
small  force,  which,  consisting  of  five  gun-boats,  as 
mentioned  above,  and  180  men,  lay  becalmed  in  an 
unfavorable  position.  After  a  gallant  resistance  of 
an  hour  against  such  an  overpowering  superiority 
of  force,  the  American  flotilla  was  compelled  to  sur 
render,  with  the  loss  of  about  40  killed  and  wounded. 
That  of  the  assailants  was,  from  concurrent  circum 
stances,  believed  not  to  have  been  less  than  300. 
This  gave  the  British  the  command  of  Lakes  Pont 
chartrain  and  Borgne. 

The  capture  of  the  gun-boats,  upon  which  General 
Jackson  had  depended  greatly  as  a  means  of  defence 
as  well  as  of  the  transmission  of  intelligence,  made 
it  necessary  to  use  greater  exertions  than  before  on 
the  land.  The  militia  of  New^  Orleans  was  called 
out  en  masse ;  and  measures  which  nothing  but  the 
urgent  necessity  of  the  case  could  justify  were 
adopted.  An  embargo  was  laid  on  all  vessels  in  the 
harbor;  the  negroes  were  impressed  and  compelled 
to  work  on  the  fortifications;  and,  on  the  16th, 
martial  law,  of  the  most  rigid  nature,  was  proclaimed 
by  General  Jackson.  The  rigid  police  which  this 
last  measure  enabled  him  to  exert  soon  freed  the 
city  from  the  disaffected,  the  spies,  and  the  traitors, 
with  which  it  had  abounded ;  and  the  citizens  arose 
as  one  man  and  labored  day  and  night  at  the  fortifi 
cations. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  289 

By  his  command  of  Lake  Borgne  the  enemy  had 
it  in  his  power  to  approach  New  Orleans  by  any  of 
the  numerous  bayous  and  canals  leading  to  the  Mis 
sissippi.  Most  of  these  had  been  obstructed  with 
great  care.  Unfortunately,  however,  a  pass,  called 
the  Bayou  Bienvenue,  which  was  little  known  and 
used  only  by  fishermen,  was  left  open,  and  unde 
fended  except  by  a  picket-guard.  Guided  by  some 
traitors,  the  enemy,  on  the  23d,  came  suddenly  on 
the  American  guard  through  that  secret  passage, 
and,  having  made  them  prisoners,  pushed  rapidly 
on,  and,  by  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  reached  the 
bank  of  the  river.  This  intelligence  being  conveyed 
to  General  Jackson,  he  resolved  immediately  to 
attack  them.  Having  therefore  collected  about 
2000  men,  he  marched  at  five  in  the  afternoon  to 
meet  the  enemy,  and  at  seven  came  in  sight  of  them, 
encamped  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  engaged  in 
preparing  their  evening  repast.  The  enemy's  force 
on  shore  amounted  to  about  3000  men,  and  extended 
half  a  mile  on  the  river,  arid  in  the  rear  to. a  wood. 
Their  position  being  thus  exposed  to  an  attack  from 
the  water,  it  was  determined  that  a  fire  should  be 
opened  upon  it  from  Commodore  Patterson's  schooner, 
the  Caroline,  at  the  same  time  that  General  Coffee, 
with  his  brigade,  assailed  their  right,  and  General 
Jackson,  with  the  remainder  of  the  force,  attacked 
the  strongest  part  of  the  position,  near  the  river. 
The  darkness  of  the  night  preventing  a  discovery, 
the  Caroline  gained  her  position,  and  opened  a  heavy 
and  galling  cannonade,  the  seamen  being  lighted  to 
the  slaughter  by  the  enemy's  own  camp-fires.  This 
was  the  first  intimation  that  the  British  had  of  the 

19 


290  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

approach  of  an  enemy.  At  the  same  moment  the 
brigade  of  General  Coffee  rushed  impetuously  on 
their  right  and  entered  their  camp,  while  the  force 
of  General  Jackson  assailed  their  front  and  left  with 
equal  ardor.  Though  taken  hy  surprise  and  several 
hundred  killed  or  wounded,  the  enemy  were  not  yet 
defeated.  Extinguishing  their  fires,  they  came  boldly 
forward  into  action.  A  thick  fog  arising  shortly 
after  the  commencement  of  the  engagement,  General 
Jackson  deemed  it  most  prudent  to  call  off  his 
troops;  and,  having  lain  on  the  field  all  night,  he 
retired  in  the  morning  to  a  stronger  position,  about 
two  miles  nearer  the  city.  His  loss  was  24  killed, 
115  wounded,  and  74  missing;  that  of  the  British 
was  46  killed,  162  wounded,  and  64  missing. 

The  position  now  taken  by  General  Jackson  occu 
pied  both  banks  of  the  river.  On  the  eastern  bank, 
a  ditch  containing  five  feet  water,  which  had  been 
dug  for  agricultural  purposes,  reaching  from  the 
river  to  the  swamp,  was  now  made  use  of  for  an  im 
portant  military  purpose.  On  its  northern  bank  in- 
trenchments  were  thrown  up,  and  large  quantities  of 
cotton-bales  were  so  arranged  as  to  protect  the  troops 
effectually  from  the  enemy's  fire.  These  works  were 
well  mounted  with  artillery.  On  the  western  bank 
of  the  river  a  heavy  battery  of  fifteen  cannon 
enfiladed  the  whole  front  of  the  position  on  the 
eastern  bank.  This  battery  was  manned  by  Com 
modore  Patterson,  with  the  crews  of  part  of  his 
squadron,  and  near  him  General  Morgan  was  sta 
tioned  with  a  body  of  militia. 

In  the  mean  time  the  enemy,  who  had  suffered 
severely  from  the  fire  of  the  Caroline,  took  advantage 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  291 

of  her  running  aground  on  the  27th,  set  her  on  fire 
and  destroyed  her  by  means  of  hot  shot.  On  the 
28th,  the  British  commander-in-chief,  Sir  Edward 
Packenham,  having  landed  with  the  main  body  of 
his  army  and  a  large  train  of  artillery,  advanced 
within  half  a  mile  of  the  American  works  and  com 
menced  a  furious  attack  with  rockets,  bombs,  and  a 
heavy  cannonade.  The  fire,  however,  from  the 
batteries  and  an  American  vessel,  the  Louisiana, 
caused  so  much  destruction  that,  after  a  severe  con 
test,  the  British  general  drew  off  his  troops  with  con 
siderable  loss.  On  the  1st  of  January,  1815,  the 
invaders  made  another  attempt  to  force  General 
Jackson's  fortifications.  They  had  in  the  night 
erected  a  battery,  and  early  in  the  morning  opened 
a  brisk  cannonade,  making,  at  the  same  time,  two 
bold  efforts  to  turn  his  left  wing;  but  they  were 
again  repulsed,  with  the  loss  of  about  70  men. 
Shortly  after  this  event  both  armies  were  reinforced, 
— that  of  General  Jackson  by  the  arrival  of  2500 
Kentuckians,  under  General  Adair,  and  that  of  the 
invaders  by  General  Lambert,  with  4000  men.  The 
American  force  now  consisted  of  about  7000  men, 
most  of  them  indifferently  armed;  that  of  the 
British  of  about  12,000,  all  of  whom  were  veterans, 
well  appointed,  and  commanded  by  able  and  expe 
rienced  officers.  With  great  labor,  the  British  gene 
ral  completed,  on  the  7th  of  January,  a  canal  from 
the  bayou  to  the  Mississippi,  by  which  he  was 
enabled  to  transport  the  necessary  number  of  boats 
and  troops  to  the  attack  of  the  works  on  the 
western  side  of  that  river.  The  American  com 
mander  had,  in  the  mean  time,  not  been  deficient  in 


292  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

preparation.  His  works  had  now  been  completed. 
The  defences  on  the  eastern  bank  were  manned  with 
the  Tennessee  and  part  of  the  Kentucky  militia, 
under  the  personal  command  of  General  Jackson. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  8th  of  January — a 
day  which  will  ever  be  memorable  in  the  annals  of 
the  Republic — the  British  commander,  having  de 
tached  Colonel  Thornton  with  a  strong  body  to  the 
west  bank,  moved  to  the  assault  with  the  remainder 
of  his  force,  in  two  columns,  under  Generals  Gibbs 
and  Keane,  the  reserve  being  commanded  by  Gene 
ral  Lambert.  They  approached  with  determined 
countenances,  slowly  but  firmly,  accompanied  by 
detachments  carrying  fascines  and  scaling-ladders. 
The  former  were  designed  to  fill  up  the  ditch,  and 
with  the  latter  they  intended  to  mount  the  ramparts. 
When  they  arrived  within  nine  hundred  yards,  the 
Americans  commenced  a  heavy  and  incessant  can 
nonade,  which  mowed  them  down  with  terrible 
slaughter.  But  they  still  moved  on  with  a  firm 
step,  invariably  supplying  the  place  of  the  fallen 
with  fresh  troops.  At  length  t  they  came  within 
reach  of  the  American  small-arms.  Then  com 
menced  a  stream  of  such  well-directed  and  destruc 
tive  fire  that,  after  losing  hundreds  in  the  vain 
attempt  to  advance,  they  broke,  and  retreated  in 
confusion.  In  the  endeavor  to  rally  them  their 
commander-in-chief,  Sir  Edward  Packenham,  was 
killed.  A  second  time  did  the  British  columns 
advance  to  within'  a  short  distance  of  the  ditch, 
with  the  same  ill  success.  The  cannon  thundered 
from  every  battery,  the  Tennessee  rifies  were 
levelled  with  deadly  aim,  and  grape-shot  and  shells 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


293 


were  scattered  as  thick  as  hailstones  over  the  plain. 
The  British  again  faltered,  and  again  were  pressed 
forward  by  their  officers.  But  all  their  efforts  suc 
ceeded  only  in  leading  their  veteran  soldiers  to 
destruction :  the  men  shrunk  from  a  contest  in 
which  they  saw  nothing  but  immediate  slaughter. 
The  columns  broke  and  retreated  in  confusion.  A 


BATTLE     OP     NEW     ORLEANS. 


third  but  equally  unavailing  attempt  was  made  by 
the  British  officers  to  bring  them  up  to  the  charge. 
The  loss  of  the  commander-in-chief,  the  disability 
of  Generals  Gibbs  and  Keane,  who  were  severely 
wounded,  and  the  sight  of  the  plain,  covered  as  it 
was  with  the  bodies  of  near  2000  dead  and  wounded, 
operated  in  checking  any  further  advance.  General 
Lambert,  on  whom  the  command  now  devolved, 


294  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

finding  that  no  hope  remained  of  a  successful  result, 
collected  together  the  broken  remnants  of  this  once- 
formidable  army  and  retired  to  the  encampment. 

In  the  mean  time  the  detachment  under  Colonel 
Thornton,  after  landing  on  the  west  bank,  imme 
diately  attacked  the  American  works.  The  Ken 
tucky  militia,  believing  themselves  to  be  outflanked, 
retreated,  leaving  the  enemy  in  possession  of  their 
works.  This  post  completely  commanding  that  on 
the  opposite  bank,  its  occupation  by  the  enemy 
would  have  proved  of  the  most  serious  detriment  to 
General  Jackson,  had  he  not,  by  a  dexterous  strata 
gem,  induced  him  to  abandon  it.  General  Lambert 
having  proposed  an  armistice,  to  continue  till  twelve 
o'clock,  in  order  to  enable  him  to  remove  his  dead 
from  the  field  of  battle,  the  proposition  was  agreed 
to  by  the  American  commander,  with  a  condition, 
however,  that  it  should  not  extend  to  the  west  bank, 
to  which  no  reinforcements  were  to  be  sent  by  either 
party.  Deceived  by  this  reservation,  and  supposing 
that  a  large  American  force  was  already  on  that 
bank,  General  Lambert  ordered  Colonel  Thornton  to 
withdraw  his  troops,  and  it  was  immediately  re- 
occupied  by  General  Jackson. 

In  this  battle  the  British  loss  was  293  killed, 
1267  wounded,  and  484  missing  or  prisoners,  in 
cluding  almost  all  the  commanding  officers;  while 
of  the  Americans  only  13  were  killed,  39  wounded, 
and  19  missing.  This  splendid  and  most  important 
victory  was  thus  rendered  doubly  gratifying,  from 
the  reflection  that  it  was  clouded  by  the  loss  of  so 
few  of  those  by  whose  exertions  it  was  achieved. 

From  New  Orleans  the  whole  British  fleet  pro- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


205 


ceeded  to  Mobile  Bay,  where  they  took  possession 
of  Fort  Bowyer,  which  was  garrisoned  by  375  men, 
— a  number  so  small  when  compared  with  that  of  the 
force  sent  against  them  as  to  render  resistance  un 
availing.  The  further  prosecution  of  their  schemes 
of  conquest  was  arrested  about  this  time  by  the  news 
of  peace,  which  being  soon  after  confirmed  officially, 
the  territory  of  the  United  States  was  evacuated  by 
the  British. 


296 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


PRESIDENT   AND   ENDYMION. 

EVERY  attempt  to  escape  from  the  blockade  of  the 
frigates  United  States  and  Macedonian  and  the  sloop- 
of-war  Hornet,  at  New  London,  having  failed,  until 
the  only  season  at  which  they  could  possibly  escape 
had  elapsed,  the  Hornet  was  ordered  to  remain  at 
her  station  as  a  guard-ship,  while  the  frigates  were 
to  be  moved  up  New  London  River  to  the  head  of 
navigation  for  heavy  vessels,  and  there  to  be  dis 
mantled.  Commodore  Decatur  and  the  crew  of  the 
United  States  were  transferred  to  the  frigate  Presi 
dent,  then  moored  at  New  York.  In  the  course  of 
the  winter  a  cruise  to  the  East  Indies  was  deter 
mined  on  at  the  Navy  Department,  to  be  performed 
by  a  squadron  consisting  of  that  frigate,  the  sloop- 
of-war  Peacock,  then  also  at  New  York,  the  sloop-of- 
war  Hornet,  and  the  Tom  Bowline,  a  merchant  ves 
sel  bought  into  the  service  as  a  store-ship.  The 
Hornet  v  as,  therefore,  directed  to  proceed  to  the 
same  harbor. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  297 

On  the  night  of  the  18th  of  November,  1814,  Cap 
tain  Biddle  passed  the  blockading  squadron  without 
being  discovered,  and  joined  Commodore  Decatur  at 
New  York.  That  port  had  been  also  constantly 
blockaded,  and  several  frigates,  sloops-of-war,  and  a 
razee,  were  at  that  time  cruising  off  the  Hook. 

On  the  14th  of  January,  Commodore  Decatur, 
thinking  it  more  likely  to  get  to  sea  with  the  Presi 
dent  singly,  directed  Captain  Warrington  to  follow 
him  with  the  Peacock  and  Hornet  as  soon  as  the 
Tom  Bowline  was  in  readiness,  and,  having  assigned 
the  island  of  Tristun  d'Acunha  as  the  first  place  of 
rendezvous,  proceeded  to  the  bay  with  a  view  of 
escaping  from  Sandy  Hook  in  the  night.  In  conse 
quence  of  the  negligence  of  the  pilot,  the  President 
struck  upon  the  bar,  and  remained  there  thumping 
upwards  of  two  hours.  This  accident  caused  her 
ballast  to  shift;  and,  when  extricated  from  this  situa 
tion  by  the  rise  of  the  tide,  it  was  discovered  that 
she  had  entirely  lost  her  trim.  The  course  of  the 
wind  forbidding  her  return  to  port,  the  commodore 
determined,  nevertheless,  upon  running  out  to  sea, 
and  did  not  doubt  but  she  would  soon  recover  that 
ease  in  sailing  for  which  she  had  been  long  celebrated. 
At  daylight  he  fell  in  with  the  British  squadron, 
composed  of  the  Majestic,  (razee,)  the  frigates  Endy- 
mion,  Tenedos,  and  Pomone,  and  the  despatch-brig, 
which  immediately  gave  chase.  The  President  was 
lightened  as  much  as  possible;  but  the  superior  sail 
ing  of  the  enemy's  ships  enabled  them  to  gain  rapidly 
upon  her,  and  the  leading  frigate,  the  Endyrnion,  of 
forty-nine  guns  and  mounting  twenty-four-pounders 


298  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

on  her  gundeck,  got  close  under  her  quarters  and 
commenced  firing. 

Commodore  Decatur,  finding  that  the  Endj^mion 
was  cutting  up  his  rigging  without  his  being  able 
to  annoy  her,  determined  to  bear  up  and  engage,  and 
if  possible  to  run  her  on  board,  and,  in  the  event  of 
carrying  her,  to  sail  off  and  abandon  the  President. 
But  the  enemy  manoeuvred  to  avoid  this  plan,  and 
the  conflict  continued  two  hours,  and  ended  in  silenc 
ing  and  beating  off  the  Endymion  with  her  hull  and 
rigging  much  cut  up,  her  masts  and  spars  badly  in 
jured,  and  a  great  proportion  of  her  crew  killed  and 
wounded.  The  President  was  also  considerably 
damaged,  and  lost  25  men  killed  and  60  wounded, — 
among  the  former,  Lieutenants  Babbit  and  Hamilton 
and  Acting-Lieutenant  Howel ;  among  the  latter,  the 
commodore,  and  Midshipman  Dale,  who  lost  a  leg, 
and  died  of  his  wounds  at  Bermuda. 

By  this  time  the  rest  of  the  squadron  came  within 
two  miles  of  the  President.  The  Endymion  had 
hauled  off  to  repair,  and  Commodore  Decatur  made 
another  effort  to  escape.  But  in  three  hours  the 
Pomone  and  Tenedos  lay  alongside,  and  the  Majes 
tic  and  Endymion  were  within  a  short  distance  of 
him.  The  gallant  commodore,  not  choosing  to  sacri 
fice  the  lives  of  his  crew  in  a  useless  contest  with  a 
squadron  of  ships  mounting  not  less  than  one  hun 
dred  and  ten  guns,  received  the  fire  of  the  nearest 
frigate,  and  surrendered.  He  was  taken  on  board 
the  Endymion,  to  whose  commander  he  refused  to 
deliver  his  sword  when  required,  alleging  that  if 
they  had  been  singly  engaged  that  officer  would  in 
evitably  have  been  captured,  and  that  he  had  struck 


NATAL     EXPLOITS. 


299 


to  the  whole  squadron.  The  enemy,  however, 
asserted  that  the  President  had  been  conquered  by 
the  Endymion  alone,  that  the  damage  was  sustained 
in  a  storm  which  rose  up  after  the  battle,  and,  hav 
ing  repaired  both  vessels,  sent  the  prize  from  Ber 
muda  to  England  under  her  convoy.  There  she 
was  lightened  and  laid  in  dock  alongside  an  old 
seventy -four,  which  was  deeply  laden  to  give  her 
a  smaller  appearance  in  the  water  than  the  Pre 
sident. 


300 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


CONSTITUTION,  CYANE  AND  LEVANT. 

THE  United  States  frigate  Constitution,  which 
had  been  some  time  repairing  at  Boston  for  a  cruise, 
sailed  from  that  port  on  the  17th  of  December,  1814, 
still  under  the  command  of  Captain  Stewart.  After 
cruising  in  various  parts  of  the  ocean  and  in  the 
track  for  outward  and  homeward  bound  convoys 
until  the  20th  of  February,  she  fell  in  with  two 
strange  men-of-war-sail  at  ten  minutes  past  one  P.M. 
on  that  day.  One  of  these,  being  to  windward,  was 
bearing  up  for  the  Constitution,  and  at  half-past  two 
displayed  signals  and  squared  away  to  the  westward 
to  join  her  consort.  The  Constitution  set  every  rag 
in  chase,  and  a  few  minutes  before  three  commenced 
firing  from  her  forward  guns  on  the  gundeck.  At 
a  quarter-past  three  the  main-royal-mast  of  the  Con 
stitution  was  carried  away,  and  enabled  the  enemy's 
vessels  to  distance  her  fire.  Before  five  a  new  royal- 
mast  was  completed,  and  a  little  while  after  the 
breeze  freshened,  and  the  ship  to  leeward  tacked  to 
the  southward  under  all  sail.  At  six  the  two  ships 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  301 

hauled  to  on  the  larboard  tack,  in  line,  and  in 
ten  minutes  the  Constitution  ranged  ahead  of  the 
stern  most,  brought  her  on  the  quarter,  her  consort 
on  the  bow,  at  two  hundred  yards'  distance,  and 
opened  a  broadside,  which  was  immediately  re 
turned. 

An  exchange  of  broadsides  continued  until  the 
three  ships  were  completely  enveloped  in  smoke, 
upon  the  clearing  away  of  which  the  Constitution 
found  herself  abreast  of  the  headmost  ship,  and  Cap 
tain  Stewart  ordered  both  sides  to  be  manned,  backed 
topsails,  and  dropped  into  his  first  position.  The 
ship  on  the  bow  backed  sails  also.  The  Constitu 
tion's  broadsides  were  then  fired  from  the  larboard 
battery,  and  in  a  few  minutes  the  ship  on  the  bow, 
perceiving  her  error  in  getting  sternboard,  filled 
away  with  an  intention  of  tacking  athwart  the  bows 
of  the  Constitution,  and  the  ship  on  the  stern  fell 
off,  perfectly  unmanageable.  The  Constitution  then 
filled  away  in  full  pursuit  of  the  former,  came  within 
one  hundred  yards  of  her,  and  gave  her  several  raking 
broadsides.  She  made  all  sail  before  the  wind  with 
a  view  to  escape ;  and  Captain  Stewart,  knowing  her 
crippled  situation  would  enable  him  to  overhaul  her 
at  any  time  after  securing  her  consort,  wore  round 
and  ranged  alongside  the  latter  ship,  from  which  a 
gun  was  fired  to  leeward  to  signify  that  she  had  sur 
rendered.  Possession  was  then  taken,  by  Lieutenant 
Hoffman,  of  his  Britannic  Majesty's  frigate  Cyane, 
Captain  Gordon  Falcon,  of  thirty-four  guns,  thirty- 
two-pound  carronades.  Her  commander  and  offi 
cers  being  brought  on  board,  Captain  Stewart 
ailed  in  chase  of  the  other  vessel,  and  in  a  short 


302  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

time  discovered  her  standing  for  him  on  the  weather- 
bow. 

In  a  few  minutes  the  enemy  fired  a  broadside,  which 
being  instantly  returned,  he  tacked  ship,  made  all  sai", 
and  at  that  moment  received  a  rake  from  the  star 
board  broadside  of  the  Constitution.  Upon  gaining 
his  wake,  Captain  Stewart  opened  a  fire  from  his 
gundeck  chase-guns  with  such  effect  that  the  enemy 
hove  to  and  surrendered,  with  five  feet  water  in 
his  hold,  his  masts  tottering,  and  nothing  but  the 
smoothness  of  the  sea  preventing  them  from  going 
overboard.  Lieutenant  Ballard  was  sent  on  board, 
and  took  possession  of  his  Britannic  Majesty's  ship 
Levant,  Captain  Douglass,  of  eighteen  thirty-two- 
pound  carronades  and  two  large  twelve-pounders. 

The  loss  on  board  the  Cyane  and  Levant  amount 
ed  to  40  men  killed  and  nearly  double  that  number 
wounded ;  on  board  the  Constitution,  where  no 
other  spar  was  lost  than  the  foretop-gallant-yard, 
four  men  were  killed  and  eleven  wounded.  On  the 
10th  of  March  Captain  Stewart  entered  the  harbor 
of  Port  Pray  a  with  his  prizes,  and  on  the  llth  a 
British  squadron,  consisting  of  the  Leander,  Sir 
George  Collier,  the  Newcastle,  Lord  George  Stewart, 
neither  of  them  carrying  less  than  sixty  guns,  and 
the  frigate  Acasta,  Captain  Kerr,  of  forty-four  guns, 
which  had  sailed  from  the  eastern  coast  of  the 
United  States  in  quest  of  the  Constitution,  Appeared 
off  its  entrance.  Captain  Stewart  immediately  made 
sail,  escaped  from  the  harbor  with  his  squadron, 
and  was  closely  pursued  by  the  enemy's  three 
ships.  After  a  long  and  perilous  chase  the  Con 
stitution  and  Cyane  escaped  their  pursuers  and 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


303 


arrived  safely  in  the  United  States;  but  the  Levant, 
after  whom  all  sail  was  made  by  the  enemy's  ships, 
ran  into  Port  Pray  a,  with  a  heavy  fire  of  broadsides 
from  the  Leander  and  Newcastle,  to  put  herself  under 
the  protection  of  the  neutral  port.  The  neutrality 
of  the  Portuguese  was  not  regarded  by  the  British 
squadron,  however,  and  they  recaptured  the  Levant 
and  carried  her  into  Barbadoes. 


304 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


ESCAPE     OF     THE     HORNET. 

HORNET  AND   PENGUIN. 

A  FEW  days  after  the  departure  of  the  President 
from  New  York,  the  Peacock,  Hornet,  and  Tom 
Bowline  left  that  harbor  without  knowing  of  her 
capture.  On  the  third  day  after  sailing  from  Sandy 
Hook,  (the  23d  of  January,)  the  Hornet  parted 
company  with  the  Peacock  and  Tom  Bowline  and 
directed  her  course  towards  the  island  of  Tristan 
d'Acunha,  the  first-designated  rendezvous  for  the 
squadron.  On  the  23d  of  March  she  descried  the 
Britif  'i  brig  Penguin,  Captain  Dickenson,  of  eighteen 
guns  and  a  twelve-pound  carronade,  to  the  south 
ward  and  eastward  of  the  island.  This  vessel  had 
been  fitted  out  and  12  supernumerary  marines  put 
on  board,  with  whom  her  crew  amounted  to  132 
men,  to  cruise  for  the  American  privateer  Young 
Wasp. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  305 

Captain  Biddle  immediately  made  sail,  cleared 
the  island,  and  hove  to,  until  the  Penguin,  at  the 
same  time  coming  down,  should  be  within  striking- 
distance.  At  forty  minutes  past  one  P.M.  the  Pen 
guin  hauled  her  wind  on  the  starboard  tack,  hoisted 
English  colors,  and  fired  a  gun  at  musket-shot  dis 
tance.  The  Hornet  immediately  luffed  to.  sent  up 
an  ensign,  and  gave  the  enemy  a  broadside.  A  con 
stant  fire  was  kept  up  for  fifteen  minutes,  the  Pen 
guin  all  that  time  gradually  nearing  upon  the  Hornet, 
when  Captain  Dickenson  gave  orders  to  run  her  on 
board,  and  was  killed  by  a  grape-shot  before  he  saw 
them  executed.  Lieutenant  McDonald,  upon  whom 
the  command  of  the  Penguin  then  devolved,  bore 
her  up,  and,  running  her  bowsprit  in  between  the 
main  arid  mizzen-rigging  of  the  Hornet,  ordered 
his  crew  to  board.  His  men,  however,  seeing  the 
Hornet's  boarders  not  only  ready  to  repel  them,  but 
waiting  for  orders  to  jump  upon  the  Penguin's  deck, 
refused  to  follow  him.  At  that  moment  the  heavy 
swell  of  the  sea  lifted  the  Hornet  ahead,  and  the 
enemy's  bowsprit  carried  away  her  mizzen-shrouds 
and  spanker-boom,  and  the  Penguin  hung  upon  the 
Hornet's  quarter-deck  with  the  loss  of  her  foremast 
and  bowsprit.  Her  commander  then  called  out  that 
he  had  surrendered.  Though  he  was  not  distinctly 
understood,  Captain  Biddle  ordered  his  marines  to 
cease  firing,  and  demanded  of  the  Penguin  whether 
she  had  struck.  An  officer  of  the  Hornet  discovered 
a  man  taking  aim  at  Captain  Biddle  after  the  sur 
render,  and  called  to  him  to  avoid  the  fire.  He  had 
scarcely  done  so  when  a  musket-ball  struck  the  cap 
tain  in  the  neck,  severely  wounding  him,  and  pass- 

20 


306  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

ing  through  his  coat-collar.  Two  marines,  to  whom 
the  man  was  pointed  out  who  had  discharged  his 
piece  at  their  commander.,  immediately  fired  at  and 
killed  him  before  he  brought  it  from  his  shoulder. 
The  Penguin  just  then  got  clear  of  the  Hornet,  and 
the  latter  wore  round  to  give  the  enemy  a  fresh 
broadside,  when  her  commander  called  out  a  second 
time  that  he  had  surrendered.  The  severest  exer 
cise  of  authority  became  necessary  to  prevent  the 
Hornet's  crew,  who  were  incensed  at  the  enemy's 
firing  after  he  had  struck,  from  discharging  the 
broadside.  Twenty-two  minutes  after  the  com 
mencement  of  the  action  she  was  taken  possession 
of  by  Mr.  Mayo,  of  the  Hornet.  The  Penguin  was 
so  much  injured  that  Captain  Biddle  determined 
upon  taking  out  her  crew  and  scuttling  her;  after 
doing  which  he  sent  his  prisoners  to  St.  Salvador  in 
the  Tom  Bowline,  by  which  vessel  and  the  Peacock 
he  was  joined  on  the  25th  of  the  month.  In 
this  action  the  Penguin  lost  14  men  killed  and  28 
wounded;  the  Hornet,  one  killed  and  11  wounded; 
among  the  latter,  her  first  lieutenant,  Connor,  dan 
gerously. 

Having  bent  a  new  suit  of  sails  and  repaired  his 
rigging,  Captain  Biddle  was  in  a  perfect  condition  to 
prosecute  the  cruise,  and,  together  with  the  Peacock, 
after  waiting  the  full  time  for  Commodore  Decatur 
at  the  island  of  Tristan  d'Acunha,  sailed  on  the  12th 
of  April  for  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  On  the  27th 
they  discovered  a  British  ship-of-the-line  with  an 
admiral's  flag.  The  Peacock  and  Hornet  imme 
diately  separated  and  made  all  sail  in  different 
directions  from  the  stranger,  who  came  up  in  pur- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


307 


suit  of  the  latter.  The  chase  commenced  at  about 
two  o'clock  of  the  27th  and  continued  until  ten  in  the 
morning  of  the  30th,  during  which  time  the  enemy's 
bow-guns  were  continually  fired,  his  vessel  fre 
quently  gained  upon  and  was  as  often  dropped  by 
the  Hornet;  and  Captain  Biddle,  after  throwing 
overboard  every  heavy  article  at  hand,  and  all  his 
guns  but  one,  at  length  effected  his  escape,  and  went 
to  St.  Salvador  for  the  purpose  of  refitting.  On  his 
arrival  there  he  gained  intelligence  of  the  conclusion 
of  hostilities  between  the  two  nations,  and,  soon  after 
sailing  thence,  returned  to  the  United  States  about 
the  latter  end  of  July  and  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  post-captain. 


308 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


CAPTAIN     WARRINGTOET. 


PORTER'S  CRUISE   IN   THE   PACIFIC. 

THE  intelligence  of  Captain  Porter's  exploits  had 
at  length  occasioned  a  force  of  the  enemy  to  be  sent 
in  pursuit  of  him.  Soon  after  his  arrival  at  Val 
paraiso,  the  Phoebe,  a  British  frigate  of  thirty-eight 
guns,  and  a  sloop-of-war,  appeared  off  the  port, 
having  been  fitted  out  expressly  to  meet  the  Essex. 
They  entered  the  harbor  to  obtain  provisions,  and, 
having  effected  this,  again  stood  out  and  cruised  off 
the  port  for  about  six  weeks.  Their  united  force 
was  much  gi eater  than  that  of  Captain  Porter,  the 
Essex  Junioi  being  of  but  little  utility  in  action. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  309 

At  length,  on  the  28th  of  March,  the  Essex  made 
an  attempt  to  get  to  sea  with  a  favorable  wind. 
The  enemy's  vessels  were  close  to  the  shore,  and 
Captain  Porter  expected  to  be  able  to  pass  to  wind 
ward  of  them.  Unfortunately,  however,  in  round 
ing  the  point,  the  American  vessel  was  struck  by  a 
squall,  which  carried  away  her  main-topmast.  Thus 
crippled,  escape  to  sea  was  impossible;  and,  as  it 
was  equally  difficult  to  reach  the  harbor,  Captain 
Porter  ran  into  a  small  bay  and  anchored  within 
pistol-shot  of  the  shore.  In  this  situation  it  was  to 
have  been  expected  that  the  ordinary  rules  of  war 
fare,  which  forbid  an  attack  upon  an  enemy  lying 
within  a  neutral  territory,  would  have  been  observed. 
It  was,  nevertheless,  soon  perceived  that  Captain 
Hillyar,  the  English  commander,  was  determined  to 
avail  himself  of  the  opportunity  offered,  without 
regard  to  the  rights  of  sovereignty  of,  the  local 
government.  The  Essex  was  prepared  for  action 
with  all  possible  despatch ;  but,  before  a  spring  could 
be  put  upon  her  cable  to  enable  her  to  bring  her 
broadside  to  bear,  the  attack  was  commenced.  The 
British  commander,  desirous  of  capturing  the  Essex 
with  as  little  loss  to  himself  as  possible,  placed  his 
frigate,  the  Phoebe,  under  her  stern,  while  the  Cherub 
took  a  position  on  her  bows.  The  latter,  soon  find 
ing  the  fire  of  the  Essex  too  warm,  bore  up  and  ran 
also  under  her  stern,  where  both  ships  kept  up  a 
heavy  and  raking  fire.  Captain  Porter  continued 
the  action  for  a  considerable  time  with  three  long 
twelve-pounders,  being  all  the  guns  which  he  found 
it  possible  to  bring  to  bear  on  the  enemy,  when, 
finding  his  crew  falling  fast  around  him,  he  cut  his 


310  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

cable  and  ran  down  on  the  enemy  with  the  intention 
of  laying  the  Phoebe  on  board.  For  a  short  time  a 
close  and  sanguinary  action  ensued;  but,  the  superior 
equipment  of  the  British  frigate  enabling  her  to 
choose  her  distance,  she  edged  off  and  continued  so 
heavy  a  fire  from  her  long  guns  that  Captain  Porter 
determined  to  run  his  ship  ashore.  He  was,  how 
ever,  disappointed  in  this  hope  by  the  wind  setting 
off  the  land,  and,  after  an  unequal  and  hopeless 
contest  of  three  hours,  was  compelled  to  give  the 
painful  order  to  strike  the  colors. 

The  loss  of  the  Essex  in  this  engagement  was  58 
killed,  66  wounded,  and  31  missing,  most  of  the 
latter  escaping  to  the  shore  by  swimming ;  that  of 
the  British  was  said  to  be  only  5  killed  and  10 
wounded.  Both  of  the  enemy's  vessels,  as  well  as 
the  Essex,  were  so  much  crippled  that  it  was  with 
difficulty  they  were  enabled  to  reach  the  port  of 
Valparaiso.  Captain  Porter  and  his  crew  were 
paroled  and  permitted  to  return  to  the  United  States 
in  the  Essex  Junior,  her  armament  being  previously 
taken  out.  On  arriving  off  the  port  of  New  York 
they  were  overhauled  and  detained  by  the  Saturn 
razee.  Being  thus  treated,  Captain  Porter  told  the 
boarding-officer  that  he  gave  up  his  parole  and  con 
sidered  himself  a  prisoner  of  war,  and  as  such  should 
use  all  means  of  escape.  In  consequence  of  this 
threat  the  Essex  Junior  was  ordered  to  remain  all 
night  under  the  lee  of  the  Saturn ;  but  the  next 
morning  Captain  Porter  put  off  in  his  boat,  though 
thirty  miles  from  shore,  and,  notwithstanding  he 
was  pursued  by  the  Saturn,  effected  his  escape  and 
landed  safely  on  Long  Island.  His  reception  in  the 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  311 

United  States  was  such  as  his  great  services  and  dis 
tinguished  valor  deserved. 

On  the  29th  of  April  the  sloop-of-war  Peacock, 
of  eighteen  guns,  commanded  by  Captain  Warring- 
ton,  fell  in  with  and,  after  an  action  of  forty-two 
minutes,  captuted  the  British  brig-of-war  Epervier, 
of  a  like  number  of  guns  and  128  men,  of  whom  8 
were  killed  and  15  wounded.  The  Peacock  was 
deprived  of  the  use  of  her  foresail  and  foretopsail  in 
the  early  part  of  the  action,  but  received  no  other 
injury,  2  men  only  being  slightly  wounded.  The 
prize  had  on  board  one  hundred  and  twenty  thousand 
dollars  in  specie,  which  was  transferred  to  the  Pea 
cock,  and  both  vessels  arrived  in  safety  in  the  United 
States. 

About  this  period  the  sloop-of-war  Wasp,  of 
eighteen  guns,  commanded  by  Captain  Blakely, 
sailed  from  Portsmouth  on  her  first  cruise.  After 
capturing  seven  merchant-men,  she  encountered,  on 
the  28th  of  June,  the  British  brig-of-war  Reindeer, 
of  nineteen  guns  and  118  men.  After  a  series  of 
manoeuvres  on  the  part  of  the  latter,  by  which  a 
close  action  was  for  a  long  time  prevented,  a  warm 
engagement  commenced,  which  was  continued  with 
great  spirit  on  both  sides  for  upwards  of  two  hours, 
during  which  the  enemy  several  times  attempted  to 
board,  but  was  as  often  repulsed.  The  crew  f  the 
Wasp  now  boarded  with  great  ardor,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  resistance  ceased  and  the  British  flag  was 
hauled  down.  Owing  to  the  proximity  of  the  two 
vessels  and  the  smoothness  of  the  sea,  the  loss  on 
both  sides  was  severe.  That  of  the  Americans  was 
5  killed  and  21  wounded;  while  the  British  lost  25 


312 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


killed,  including  Captain  Manners,  and  42  wounded. 
The  Reindeer  was  so  much  injured  that  it  was 
found  necessary  to  set  her  on  fire. 

Captain  Blakely,  continuing  his  cruise,  about  the 
1st  of  September  discovered  a  fleet  of  merchant-men 
under  convoy  of  a  seventy-four-gun  ship.  One  of 
them  was  taken,  and,  after  removing  her  cargo,  was 
set  on  fire.  On  the  same  evening  he  fell  in  with 
and  captured  the  British  sloop-of-war  Avon,  of 
twenty  guns.  The  appearance  of  a  British  squadron 
compelled  him  to  abandon  his  prize,  which  sunk 
soon  after  the  removal  of  her  crew. 

The  damage  sustained  in  this  action  being  soon 
repaired,  Captain  Blakely  continued  his  cruise,  and, 
on  the  23d  of  September,  captured  the  British  brig 
Atalanta,  which  he  sent  into  the  United  States. 
From  this  period  no  tidings  ever  reached  the  Republic 
of  this  gallant  ship.  Whether  she  foundered  in 
darkness  and  tempest,  or  perished  in  a  conflict  with 
an  enemy,  has  never  been  ascertained. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


313 


SEMINOLE   WAR. 

JUST  after  the  close  of  the  last  war  with  Great 
Britain,  when  the  British  withdrew  their  military 
force  from  the  Floridas,  Edward  Nicholls,  formerly 
a  colonel,  and  James  Woodbine,  a  captain,  in  the 
British  service,  who  had  both  been  instrumental  in 
exciting  the  Indians  and  negroes  of  the  South  to  hos 
tilities,  remained  in  the  territory  for  the  purpose  of 
forming  combinations  against  the  Southwestern  fron 
tier  of  the  United  States.  To  the  Creeks,  who  had 
ceded  their  lands  to  our  Government  by  General 
Jackson's  treaty  of  August,  1814,  Nicholls  repre 
sented  that  they  had  been  defrauded,  that  the 
treaty  of  Ghent  had  provided  for  the  restoration  of 
their  lands,  and  that  the  British  government  was 
ready  to  enforce  their  claims.  He  even  went  so  far 
as  to  assume  the  character  of  a  British  agent,  with 
powers  from  the  commencement  for  supporting  their 
pretensions. 

To  effect  their  purposes,  Nicholls  and  Woodbine 
established  a  fort  on  the  Appalachicola  River,  be 
tween  East  and  West  Florida,  as  a  rendezvous  for 


314  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

runaway  negroes  and  hostile  Indians.  In  July, 
1816,  about  400  negroes  and  Indians  were  collected 
at  this  place,  which  was  strong  by  its  position,  forti 
fied  with  twelve  pieces  of  artillery,  and  well  provided 
with  ammunition  and  provisions. 

To  dislodge  this  horde  of  outlaws,  Colonel  Clinch, 
with  a  detachment  of  United  States  troops  and  500 
friendly  Indians,  under  the  command  of  Mclntosh, 
proceeded  from  the  head-waters  of  the  Appalachi- 
cola  and  laid  siege  to  the  fort  on  the  land  side. 
Nicholls  and  Woodbine  first  exacted  an  oath  from 
their  followers  not  to  suffer  an  American  to  ap 
proach  the  fort  alive,  and  then,  giving  it  up  to  them, 
went  off. 

To  supply  Colonel  Clinch's  forces  with  munitions 
and  provisions  for  the  siege,  two  schooners  from 
New  Orleans,  by  permission  of  the  Spanish  autho 
rities  at  Pensacola,  proceeded  up  the  Appalachicola, 
under  convoy  of  two  gun-boats,  on  the  10th  of  July. 
When  near  the  fort,  a  watering-party  of  seven  men 
from  the  schooners  was  surprised  by  an  ambuscade 
of  negroes :  five  wrere  killed,  one  escaped,  and  one 
was  captured,  tortured,  and  put  to  death.  The  gun 
boats,  having  but  a  twelve-pounder  and  25  men  each, 
were  deemed  insufficient  by  Colonel  Clinch  to  attack 
the  fort,  and  their  commander  was  cautioned  against 
attempting  any  offensive  operations.  Not  deterred 
by  this,  he  warped  up  sufficiently  near  to  reach  it, 
and,  on  commencing  the  firing  of  hot  shot,  one  of 
them  entered  the  principal  magazine  and  blew  up 
the  fort. 

The  destruction  was  complete  :  270  of  the  enemy 
were  killed,  most  of  the  remainder  were  badly 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  315 

wounded,  and  only  three  of  the  whole  number 
escaped  unhurt.  An  immense  quantity  of  arms  and 
munitions  of  war,  designed  for  supplying  the  Indians 
and  negroes  with  the  means  of  annoying  the  frontier- 
settlers,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  conquerors  ;  and 
two  chiefs,  who  had  directed  the  torture  of  Ameri 
can  prisoners,  were  given  over  to  the  tender  mercies 
of  Macintosh's  Indians.  The  savage  horde  of  West 
Florida  was  thus  broken  up. 

In  East  Florida  an  enemy  of  the  same  description 
was  engaged  in  a  similar  system  of  operations.  This 
province  of  Spain  had  become  the  receptacle  of  a 
population  of  the  vilest  character.  The  Spanish 
authorities  had  no  control  over  them  beyond  the 
limits  of  their  fortified  posts.  The  most  numerous 
occupants  of  the  interior  were  the  Seminole  Indians, 
outcast  runaways,  as  their  name  indicates,  from  the 
Creeks.  Their  allies  were  the  Red-Sticks  and  other 
fugitives  from  the  Northern  tribes.  The  Red-Sticks 
were  Creeks  who  had  been  expelled  from  their  lands 
in  1813.  They  had  erected  a  high  pole  at  their 
principal  village  of  Mickasuky  and  painted  it  red,  to 
denote  their  thirst  for  the  blood  of  the  whites.  Their 
flag  was  composed  of  scalps  of  Americans  whom  they 
had  murdered.  Hence  their  name  Red-Sticks.  To 
this  Indian  population  were  added  some  hundreds 
of  runaway  negroes  from  Georgia.  The  frontier-in 
habitants  had  much  to  dread  from  such  a  popula 
tion.  Their  warriors  amounted  to  some  1500  or 
more.  Francis  Hillishago,  a  Creek  chief,  had  been 
on  an  unsuccessful  visit  to  England  for  the  purpose 
of  recovering  his  lands  by  the  aid  of  the  govern 
ment.  The  Spanish  authorities  of  Florida  and 


316  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

numerous  adventurers  from  New  Providence  gave 
them  encouragement  and  supplied  them  with  arms, 
and  represented  the  Americans  as  enemies  bent 
upon  the  extermination  of  the  Indian  race.  Thus 
supported,  these  outcasts  carried  on  a  system  of 
murder  and  plunder  on  the  frontiers  of  Georgia  and 
Alabama,  taking  refuge  in  the  Mickasuky  and  Sawa- 
ney  villages,  situated  on  the  borders  of  Georgia. 

The  region  which  had  thus  become  the  seat  of  a 
sanguinary  border-warfare  was  situated  in  the  mili 
tary  department  of  General  Jackson,  and  was  under 
the  immediate  command  of  General  Gaines.  The 
latter,  in  pursuance  of  his  orders  to  protect  the 
frontier,  concentrated  his  forces  in  that  quarter,  and 
built  Fort  Scott,  on  the  Flint  River,  near  its  junc 
tion  with  the  Chattahoochee,  Fort  Gaines,  on  the 
latter  river,  on  the  line  between  Georgia  and  Missis 
sippi,  and  Fort  Crawford,  in  Mississippi,  on  the 
Canacho  branch  of  the  Escambia. 

General  Gaines's  instructions  on  the  subject  of  the 
Seminole  War  were  contained  in  four  orders  from  the 
War  Department.  The  first,  of  the  30th  of  Octo 
ber,  1816,  after  directing  a  detachment  of  Georgia 
militia  to  be  called  into  service,  states  "  that  the 
assurance  of  an  additional  force,  the  President  flat 
ters  himself,  will  at  least  have  the  effect  of  restrain 
ing  the  Seininoles  from  committing  further  depreda 
tions,  and  perhaps  of  inducing  them  to  make  repara 
tion  for  the  murders  which  they  have  committed. 
Should  they,  however,  persevere  in  their  refusal  to 
make  such  reparation,  it  is  the  wish  of  the  President 
that  you  should  not,  on  that  account,  pass  the  line 
and  make  an  attack  upon  them  within  the  limits  of 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  317 

Florida,  until  you  shall  have  received  further  in 
structions  from  this  Department.  You  are  author 
ized  to  remove  the  Indians  still  remaining  on  the 
lands  ceded  by  the  treaty  made  by  General  Jackson 
with  the  Creeks." 

The  second,  bearing  date  the  2d  of  December,  re 
marks,  "  The  state  of  our  negotiations  with  Spain, 
and  the  temper  manifested  by  the  principal  European 
powers,  make  it  impolitic,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Pre 
sident,  to  move  a  force  at  this  time  into  the  Spanish 
possessions  for  the  mere  purpose  of  chastising  the 
Seminoles  for  depredations  which  have  heretofore 
been  committed  by  them."  By  the  third,  dated  the 
9th  of  December,  General  Gaines  was  instructed 
that,  should  the  Indians  appear  in  force  on  the 
Spanish  side  of  the  line  and  persevere  in  committing 
hostilities  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States,  to 
exercise  a  sound  discretion  as  to  the  propriety  of 
crossing  the  line  for  the  purpose  of  attacking  them 
and  breaking  up  their  towns.  The  fourth,  bearing 
date  the  16th  of  December,  further  instructed  him 
that,  should  the  Seminole  Indians  still  refuse  to 
make  reparation  for  their  outrages  and  depredations 
on  the  citizens  of  the  United  States,  to  consider  him 
self  at  liberty  to  march  across  the  Florida  line  and 
attack  them  within  its  limits,  unless  they  should 
shelter  themselves  under  a  Spanish  fort,  and,  in  that 
event,  immediately  notify  the  War  Department. 

On  the  19th  of  November,  1816,  General  Gaines, 
being  at  Fort  Scott,  and  having  been  instructed  to 
remove  the  remaining  Creeks  from  the  territory  ceded 
to  the  United  States  by  Jackson's  treaty,  sent  an  offi 
cer  to  Fewltown,  one  of  their  settlements  near  him, 


318  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

to  require  the  removal  of  certain  Indians  still  remain 
ing.  The  chief  returned  a  haughty  refusal.  Major 
Twiggs,  being  despatched  on  the  next  day  with  250 
men  to  bring  the  chiefs  and  warriors  to  Fort  Scott,  was 
attacked  by  the  Indians;  but  he  repulsed  and  put 
them  to  flight  after  killing  and  wounding  a  small  num 
ber.  Four  days  after  he  marched  to  the  town,  which 
he  found  deserted.  Three  vessels,  under  the  direction 
of  Major  Muhlenburg,  with  military  stores  for  the 
supply  of  Fort  Scott,  were  ascending  the  Appalachi- 
cola,  on  the  30th  of  November,  when  a  party  of  40 
men,  under  Lieutenant  Scott,  was  sent  down  the 
river  to  their  assistance  by  General  Gaines.  Muhlen 
burg  took  out  20  of  the  men,  and,  supplying  their 
places  with  his  sick,  invalids,  and  seven  women, 
sent  the  boat  back  towards  the  fort.  At  the  mouth 
of  Flint  River  the  boat  was  attacked  by  an  ambus 
cade  of  Indians,  and  all  were  killed  except  six  sol 
diers,  who  escaped  to  the  opposite  shore  by  swim 
ming,  and  one  woman,  who  was  captured.  The  scalps 
of  the  killed  were  taken  to  the  Mickasuky  village 
and  added  to  the  trophies  on  the  red  pole  of  the 
Indians.  The  vessels,  retarded  by  the  current  and 
constantly  assailed  by  the  savage  enemies  who  lined 
the  banks  of  the  river,  received  the  aid  of  another 
detachment  from  the  fort,  which  a  favorable  wind  at 
last  enabled  them  to  reach. 

The  news  of  these  disasters  induced  the  Govern 
ment  to  take  more  decisive  measures;  and  on  the 
26th  of  December  General  Jackson  was  ordered  to 
take  the  field,  with  instructions  to  raise  troops  at 
his  discretion  and  conform  to  the  orders  previously 
given  to  General  Gaines  as  to  the  method  of  prose- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  319 

cuting  the  war.  An  appeal  from  the  general  to  the 
patriotism  of  the  volunteers  of  West  Tennessee  soon 
brought  a  thousand  soldiers  into  the  service.  They 
were  ordered  to  rendezvous  at  Fayetteville  and  pro 
ceed  to  Fort  Scott. 

The  general  now  left  his  residence  at  Nashville, 
and  on  the  9th  of  March  arrived  at  Fort  Scott,  with 
900  Georgia  militia.  He  crossed  the  Flint  River  on 
the  10th,  and  arrived  on  the  16th  at  Prospect  Bluff, 
where  he  erected  a  fort,  to  which  he  gave  the  name 
of  Fort  Gadsden,  in  honor  of  the  engineer  engaged 
in  its  erection.  General  Gaines  had  joined  him  on 
the  march. 

Being  nearly  destitute  of  provisions,  General 
Jackson  determined  to  sustain  the  army  by  causing 
supplies  to  be  transported  up  the  Escambia,  passing 
Pensacola  and  the  fortress  of  Barrancas.  He  ac 
cordingly  wrote  to  the  Spanish  governor  of  West 
Florida  that  he  should  consider  any  interruption  to 
this  proceeding,  on  his  part,  as  an  act  of  hostility 
against  the  United  States.  The  governor  demanded 
duties  on  the  stores,  but  did  not  venture  to  enforce 
his  demand. 

Mclntosh,  the  Creek  chief,  with  1500  warriors, 
having  entered  the.  service  of  the  United  States  in 
this  expedition,  the  whole  force  of  General  Jackson 
new  amounted  to  4300  men.  The  enemy  consisted 
of  runaway  Indians  and  negroes  to  the  amount  of 
one-quarter  or  one-third  of  that  number.  No  serious 
contest  could  be  anticipated;  and,  accordingly,  the 
subsequent  operations  constituted,  as  Jackson  after 
wards  aptly  denominated  it,  u  a  war  of  movements." 

On  the  1st  of  April   the    Tennessee  volunteers 


320  BATTLE-FIELDS'    AND 

joined  the  main  body,  which  had  then  nearly 
reached  the  Mickasuky  villages.  As  they  ap 
proached  them  the  outposts  had  a  trifling  skirmish 
with  some  Indians,  who  soon  fled  ;  and  the  villages, 
on  the  arrival  of  the  army,  were  found  deserted  by 
their  inhabitants.  The  wigwams  were  burned  ;  the 
old  red  stick,  with  the  scalps  of  Lieutenant  Scott's 
party  attached  to  it,  was  found  still  standing. 

Mclntosh  and  his  warriors  were  ordered  to  scour 
the  neighboring  country  in  pursuit  of  the  fugitives; 
and  General  Jackson  now  marched  to  the  Spanish 
fort  of  St.  Mark's,  took  possession  of  it,  hoisted  the 
American  flag,  and  shipped  the  Spanish  garrison  to 
Pensacola. 

In  the  neighborhood  of  this  place  was  found  a 
Scotch  trader,  named  Alexander  Arbuthnot,  who 
had  been  carrying  on  an  extensive  intercourse  with 
the  hostile  Indians  and  negroes.  The  general  put 
him  in  close  confinement.  Francis  Hillishago,  the 
Creek  chief,  and  Hoonotlemied,  a  Bed-Stick  chief, 
who  had  led  the  murderers  of  Lieutenant  Scott's 
party,  and  had  been  decoyed  on  board  a  vessel  in 
Appalachee  Bay  by  Captain  McKeever,  were  now 
hung  by  the  general's  order. 

The  general  then  left  a  small  garrison  at  St. 
Mark's,  and  on  the  9th  of  April  marched  for  the 
Sawaney  villages,  distant  one  hundred  and  seven 
miles.  He  arrived  there  on  the  16th,  killed  eleven 
Indians  and  took  two  prisoners.  The  next  day  the 
villages  were  destroyed  and  parties  were  sent  out 
in  pursuit  of  the  fugitives.  Arbuthnot's  schooner 
was  captured  at  the  mouth  of  the  Sawaney  Kiver, 
and  employed  in  transporting  the  sick  and  baggage 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  321 

of  the  army  to  St.  Mark's.  On  the  18th,  Robert  C. 
Ambrister,  late  a  lieutenant  of  marines  in  the  British 
service,  under  Nicholls,  was  captured  in  the  neigh 
borhood  of  the  villages. 

The  war  was  now  considered  as  having  termi 
nated.  The  Georgia  militia  and  Macintosh's  Indians 
were  discharged;  and  on  the  llth  of  April  the  main 
body  set  out  for  St.  Mark's,  and  after  a  rapid  march 
of  five  days  arrived  at  that  place. 

It  is  foreign  to  our  purpose  to  go  into  a  history  of 
what  was  denominated,  at  that  time,  the  Arbuthnot 
and  Ambrister  affair.  The  proceedings  in  relation 
to  their  trial  were  certainly  of  a  very  summary 
character,  and  they  were  put  to  death ;  but  whether 
as  outlaws,  spies,  or  pirates,  we  must  leave  to  Gene 
ral  Jackson  to  decide.  It  is  worthy  of  remark,  how 
ever,  that  the  proceedings  of  the  general  in  relation 
to  these  men  were  justified  by  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States  and  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain. 
The  Spanish  government  complained,  but  were 
silenced  by  the  answer  of  Mr.  Adams. 

At  St.  Mark's  General  Jackson  received  intelli 
gence  that  some  of  the  fugitive  Seminoles  had 
escaped  to  West  Florida.  He,  therefore,  after  leav 
ing  a  garrison  in  the  fort,  marched  into  the  imme 
diate  neighborhood  of  Pensacola.  The  Spanish  go 
vernor  remonstrated ;  the  general  occupied  the  town, 
and  the  governor  and  garrison  were  obliged  to  take 
refuge  in  the  fortress  of  Barrancas.  (24th  of  May.) 
The  fort  was  now  invested  and  bombarded  till  the 
27th  of  May,  when  it  was  surrendered  to  the  United 
States.  St.  Augustine,  the  only  remaining  Spanish 

fortress,   being    subsequently   captured    by   General 

21 


322  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

Games,  in  obedience  to  Jackson's  orders,  the  whole 
province  was  in  the  military  possession  of  the  United 
States;  and  the  Seminole  War  had  ended  in  the 
conquest  of  Florida. 

The  diplomatic  proceedings  which  followed  this 
event,  the  temporary  restoration  of  the  province  and 
its  final  cession,  are  matters  which  belong  to  the 
civil  history  of  the  United  States. 

Subsequent  events  have  made  it  pretty  apparent 
that  in  this  war  the  Seminoles  were  not  all  killed. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


323 


BLACK   HAWK'S   WAR. 

BLACK  HAWK,  the  Indian  chief  whose  fame  has 
been  recently  so  widely  extended  among  us,  was 
born  on  Rock  River,  in  Illinois,  about  the  year  1767. 
His  great-grandfather  was  a  chief  by  the  name  of 
Nanamakee,  or  Thunder.  Having,  at  the  early  age 
of  fifteen,  taken  the  scalp  of  an  enemy,  he  was 
admitted  to  the  rank  of  a  brave.  A  short  time 
afterwards  he  joined  in  a  war-party  against  the 
Osages.  and  was  greatly  distinguished  for  his  valor. 
On  his  return  he  was  allowed  to  join  in  the  scalp- 
dance  of  the  nation.  His  reputation  being  thus 


324  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

established,  he  frequently  led  war-parties  against 
the  enemies  of  his  tribe,  and  was  in  almost  every 
case  successful. 

The  treaty  which  had  been  made  in  1804,  by 
Governor  Harrison,  with  the  Sacs  and  Foxes,  by 
which  they  ceded  their  lands  east  of  the  Mississippi, 
was  executed  by  a  few  chiefs  without  the  knowledge 
or  consent  of  the  nation.  Therefore,  when  Fort 
Madison  was  erected  by  the  Americans  upon  the 
Mississippi,  these  tribes  expressed  their  dissatisfac 
tion  in  an  open  manner,  and  even  made  an  unsuc 
cessful  attempt  to  cut  off  the  garrison. 

In  the  mean  while  the  territory  of  Illinois  had 
been  admitted  into  the  Union  and  now  formed  a 
State.  Emigrants  poured  in  from  all  parts,  and  in 
a  short  time  the  territory  occupied  by  the  Sacs  and 
Foxes  was  completely  surrounded  by  the  settlements 
of  the  white  men.  These  soon  began  to  commit 
outrages  upon  their  red  neighbors,  in  order  to  hasten 
their  departure  from  the  ceded  territory.  In  1827, 
when  these  tribes  were  absent  from  their  homes,  en 
gaged  in  hunting,  some  of  the  whites  set  fire  to  their 
village,  by  which  forty  houses  were  consumed.  The 
Indians  said  nothing  concerning  this  disgraceful  act, 
but,  on  their  return,  quietly  rebuilt  their  dwellings. 
The  whites  also  turned  their  cattle  into  the  fields 
of  the  Indians,  by  which  means  the  corn  was  all 
trodden  under  foot  and  destroyed. 

The  American  government  now  determined  to 
sell  the  lands  occupied  by  these  tribes  of  Indians, 
and  they  were  accordingly  advised  to  remove. 
Keokuk,  the  chief,  with  a  majority  of  the  nation, 
determined  to  do  so;  but  Black  Hawk,  with  a  party 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  325 

which  he  gained  over  to  himself,  resolved  to  remain, 
at  all  hazards. 

Meanwhile  the  whites  committed  greater  acts  of 
violence  upon  the  Indians  than  before.  The  latter 
at  last  took  up  arms,  and  a  war  would  certainly 
have  taken  place  had  not  General  Gaines,  com 
mander  of  the  western  division  of  the  United  States 
army,  hastened  to  the  scene  of  action.  He  held  a 
council  with  the  principal  chiefs,  in  which  it  was 
agreed  that  the  nation  should  instantly  remove. 
They  accordingly  crossed  the  river  and  settled  on  its 
western  bank. 

The  majority  of  the  Indians  were  on  peaceable 
terms  with  the  United  States.  But  Black  Hawk 
and  his  band  determined  to  return  to  Illinois,  alleg 
ing  that  they  had  been  invited  by  the  Pottawatomies, 
residing  on  Rock  River,  to  spend  the  summer  with 
them  and  plant  corn  on  their  lands. 

Accordingly,  they  crossed  the  Mississippi  and  pro 
ceeded  towards  the  country  of  the  Pottawatomies. 
They  did  not  attempt  to  harm  any  one  upon  the 
road.  The  traveller  passed  by  them  without  receiv 
ing  any  injury,  and  the  inmates  of  the  lowly  hut 
experienced  no  outrage.  Thus  they  continued,  and, 
without  doubt,  no  violence  would  have  been  com 
mitted  by  them  had  not  the  whites  been  the  first 
to  shed  blood.  Five  or  six  Indians  who  were  in 
advance  of  the  party  were  all  captured  and  put  to 
death  by  a  battalion  of  mounted  militia,  except  one 
who  made  his  escape.  The  one  who  escaped  brought 
the  news  to  Black  Hawk,  who  immediately  deter 
mined  to  be  revenged.  He  therefore  planned  an 
ambuscade,  into  which  the  militia  were  enticed.  On 


326  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

receiving  the  fire  of  the  Indians  they  became 
panic-struck,  and  fled  in  disorder,  with  the  loss  of 
14  men. 

The  Indians,  now  that  the  war  was  begun,  deter 
mined  to  do  all  the  mischief  in  their  power.  They 
accordingly  divided  into  small  parties,  proceeded  in 
different  directions,  and  fell  upon  the  settlements 
which  were  at  that  time  thinly  scattered  over  a 
greater  portion  of  Illinois.  Here  they  committed 
such  outrages  that  the  whole  State  was  in  the 
greatest  excitement.  Governor  Reynolds  ordered 
out  2000  additional  militia,  who,  on  the  10th  of 
June,  assembled  at  Hennepin,  on  the  Illinois  River, 
and  were  soon  engaged  in  pursuit  of  the  Indians. 

On  the  20th  of  May,  1832,  the  Indians  attacked 
a  small  settlement  on  Indian  Creek,  and  killed  15 
persons,  besides  taking  considerable  plunder.  On 
the  14tlx.  of  June  5  persons  were  killed  near  Galena. 
General  Dodge,  being  in  the  neighborhood,  marched 
with  30  of  his  mounted  men  immediately  in  search 
of  them.  When  he  had  gone  about  three  miles,  he 
discovered  12  Indians,  whom  he  supposed  to  be  the 
party  that  had  committed  the  murders,  and  he  en 
tered  into  the  pursuit  with  great  spirit.  The  Indians 
made  for  a  swamp,  in  which  they  immediately  took 
shelter.  The  whites  rushed  in  after  them,  and  soon 
met  them.  No  resistance  was  made ;  every  Indian 
was  killed,  and  their  scalps  were  taken  off  and  borne 
away  in  triumph. 

Meanwhile  General  Atkinson  was  pursuing  Black 
Hawk,  whose  camp  was  near  the  Four  Lakes.  In 
stead  of  crossing  the  country,  to  retreat  beyond  the 
Mississippi,  as  was  expected,  he  descended  the  Wis- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  327 

cousin,  to  escape  in  that  direction ;  by  which  means 
General  Dodge  came  upon  his  trail  and  commenced 
a  vigorous  pursuit. 

On  the  21st  of  July,  Dodge,  with  about  200  men, 
besides  Indians,  came  up  with  Black  Hawk,  on  the 
Wisconsin,  forty  miles  from  Fort  Winnebago.  The 
whites  came  upon  the  Indians  just  as  they  were 
about  to  cross  the  river.  After  a  short  engagement 
the  Indians  retreated ;  and,  it  being  dark,  the  whites 
could  not  pursue  them  without  disadvantage  to 
themselves.  Black  Hawk's  party,  it  is  supposed, 
lost  about  40  men  in  this  encounter. 

The  Indians  were  now  in  a  truly  deplorable  conr 
dition ;  several  of  them  were  greatly  emaciated  for 
want  of  food,  and  some  even  starved  to  death.  In 
their  pursuit  of  them  before  the  battle  the  whites 
found  several  of  their  number  lying  dead  on  the 
road.  Yet  were  they  not  altogether  dispirited,  and 
they  resolved  to  continue  hostilities  as  long  as  they 
were  able. 

In  the  affair  which  we  have  just  related,  a 
squaw,  the  wife  of  a  warrior  called  Big  Lake,  was 
taken  prisoner.  From  her  the  whites  learned  that 
Black  Hawk  intended  to  proceed  to  the  west  side  of 
the  Mississippi,  above  Prairie-du-Chien ;  those  having 
horses  were  to  strike  across  the  country,  while  the 
others  were  to  proceed  by  the  Wisconsin.  A  great 
many  of  these  latter  were  taken  prisoners  on  the 
road  by  the  whites. 

Several  circumstances  now  transpired  to  prevent 
the  escape  of  the  main  body  under  Black  Hawk. 
The  first  was  his  falling  in  with  the  "  Warrior" 
steamboat,  (August  1,)  just  as  he  was  about  to 


328  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

cross  the  Mississippi.  On  this  occasion  the  chief  did 
not  wish  to  fight,  but  to  escape.  He  displayed  two 
white  flags,  and  about  150  of  his  men  came  to  the 
river  without  arms,  making  signs  of  submission. 
But  J.  Throckmorton,  the  commander  of  the  boat, 
either  could  not  or  would  not  understand  their  sig 
nals  :  he  gave  orders  for  his  men  to  fire  upon  them, 
which  they  did  ;  the  fire  was  returned,  but  without 
doing  any  damage.  The  engagement  lasted  for 
about  an  hour,  when  the  wood  of  the  steamboat 
began  to  fail,  and  it  proceeded  to  the  Prairie.  In 
this  battle  the  Indians  had  23  men  killed,  besides  a 
great  many  wounded;  while  the  whites  had  none 
killed  and  only  one  wounded. 

On  the  next  day  Atkinson's  army  came  up  with 
Black  Hawk,  after  having  encountered  many  incon 
veniences  and  dangers  in  the  inarch.  He  imme 
diately  formed  his  troops  in  order  of  battle  and 
attacked  the  Indians.  However,  lest  some  should 
escape  up  or  down  the  river,  Atkinson  had  ordered 
Generals  Alexander  and  Posey  to  form  the  right 
wing  of  the  army  and  march  down  to  the  river 
above  the  Indian  encampment  on  the  bank,  and 
then  move  down.  The  battle  now  commenced,  and 
lasted  for  about  three  hours.  The  Indians  fought 
with  desperation,  and  disputed  the  ground  with  the 
greatest  valor.  They  were,  however,  finally  obliged 
to  retreat.  Their  loss  in  killed  and  wounded 
amounted  to  about  200,  while  that  of  the  Americans 
was  but  27. 

This  action  may  be  considered  as  the  finishing- 
stroke  of  the  war,  although  Black  Hawk  made  his 
escape.  From  this  time  Black  Hawk's  men  con- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  329 

Hnually  deserted  him  and  went  over  to  the  whites. 
Finally,  the  warrior  himself  came  in  and  surrendered 
to  the  agent  at  Prairie-du-Chien.  On  this  occasion 
he  made  a  speech,  in  which  he  said  that  he  regretted 
his  heing  obliged  to  close  the  war  so  soon  without 
having  given  the  whites  much  more  trouble ;  that 
he  had  done  nothing  of  which  he  had  any  reason  to 
be  ashamed ;  that  an  Indian  who  was  as  bad  as  the 
white  men  would  not  be  allowed  to  live  in  their 
communities;  and  ended  with  the  following  words : — 
"Farewell,  my  nation !  Black  Hawk  tried  to  save 
you  and  revenge  your  wrongs.  He  drank  the  blood 
of  some  of  the  whites.  He  has  been  taken  prisoner, 
and  his  plans  are  stopped.  He  can  do  no  more.  He 
is  near  his  end.  His  sun  is  setting,  and  he  will  rise 
no  more.  Farewell  to  Black  Hawk." 

Black  Hawk  was  now  taken  to  Washington,  where 
he  had  an  interview  with  the  President.  He  was 
then  conducted  through  the  principal  Atlantic  cities 
and  received  everywhere  with  the  most  marked 
attention  and  hospitality.  He  was  then  set  at 
liberty  and  returned  to  his  nation.  He  died  on  the 
3d  of  October,  1838;  at  his  village  on  the  Des  Moines 
River. 


ISO 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


SECOND   SEMINOLE   WAR. 

THIS  war  broke  out  in  the  summer  of  1835,  and, 
to  the  disgrace  of  the  Government,  lasted  eight 
years.  General  Clinch,  with  250  regulars  and  650 
Florida  militia,  had  the  chief  command  at  first;  and 
in  December,  1835,  Major  Dade's  detachment  was 
entirely  destroyed  by  the  Indians. 

Generals  Gaines,  Scott,  arid  Jessup,  were  in  turn 
intrusted  with  the  conduct  of  the  war;  but  none  of 
them  succeeded  in  bringing  the  enemy  to  a  decisive 
engagement.  The  last-named  commander  resorted 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  331 

to  a  stratagem  to  gain  possession  of  the  master-spirit 
among  the  Seminoles. 

Osceola  was  known  to  be  a  brave  and  sagacious 
warrior,  and  was  at  this  time  the  principal  chief. 
He  was  viewed  as  the  great  director  of  all  the  hostile 
bands  of  Seminole  warriors.  It  was  deemed,  there 
fore,  a  great  achievement  by  the  American  general 
to  get  him  into  his  power.  General  Jessup  found 
means  to  communicate  to*  the  Indians  that  it  was 
his  wish  to  have  the  chiefs  come  in  and  hold  a  talk, 
in  order  to  come  to  some  agreement.  White  flags 
were  displayed  on  the  fort.  On  the  20th  of  October, 
1837,  Osceola,  accompanied  by  other  chiefs  and  a 
few  warriors,  came  in,  agreeably  to  the  invitation. 
He,  carrying  a  white  flag  in  his  hand  and  relying  on 
the  honor  of  the  commanding  general,  put  himself 
in  his  power;  but,  instead  of  being  received  as  was 
expected,  they  were  immediately  surrounded  by 
bayonets,  made  prisoners,  and  confined  in  the  fort. 
Whether  General  Jessup  was  alone  accountable  for 
this  act  of  treachery,  or  whether  he  acted  under 
orders  from  the  President,  is  not  known ;  but,  the 
Government  having  afterwards  approved  of  the  mea 
sure,  it  became  a  national  act. 

Osceola  was  kept  there  a  prisoner  for  some  time, 
when  he  was,  by  order  of  the  Government,  conveyed 
under  a  strong  guard  to  Sullivan  Island,  in  the 
harbor  of  Charleston,  S.C.,  and  confined  in  the  fort. 
His  proud  and  independent  spirit  could  not  bear  the 
confinement,  and  he  gradually  pined  away  and  died 
in  prison.  Thus  fell  another  brave  Indian  chieftain, 
not  in  fair  fight,  but  in  a  manner  that  will  ever  be  a 
etigma  upon  our  national  honor. 


332 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


Other  chiefs  were  kidnapped  in  the  same  treache 
rous  manner ;  but,  severe  as  the  loss  must  have  been 
to  the  Indians,  it  did  not  appear  to  discourage  them. 
The  war  was  still  carried  on,  by  those  who  were  left, 
in  a  desultory  manner.  The  ranks  of  the  Indians 
are  said  to  have  been  filled  up  by  runaway  slaves 
and  some  of  the  Creek  Indians  who  had  not  yet 
quitted  Georgia. 


BATTLE    OP     OKEECHOBEE. 


On  the  24th  of  December,  1837,  Colonel  Taylor 
succeeded  in  bringing  the  Indians  to  a  general  en 
gagement  at  Okeechobee.  The  action  was  a  severe 
one,  and  continued  from  half-past  twelve  until  after 
three  P.  M.,  a  part  of  the  time  very  close  and  severe. 
The  troops  suffered  much,  having  26  killed  and  112 
wounded,  among  whom  were  some  of  the  most 
valuable  officers.  The  enemy  probably  suffered 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  333 

equally,  they  having  left  10  dead  on  the  ground, 
besides,  doubtless,  carrying  off  many  more,  as  is 
customary  with  them  when  practicable. 

Taylor's  column,  in  six  weeks,  penetrated  one 
hundred  and  fifty  miles  into  the  enemy's  country, 
opened  roads,  and  constructed  bridges  and  causeways 
when  necessary,  on  the  greater  portion  of  the  route, 
established  two  depots  and  the  necessary  defences 
for  the  same,  and  finally  overtook  and  beat  the 
enemy  in  his  strongest  position;  the  results  of 
which  movement  and  battle  were  the  capture  of  30 
of  the  enemy,  the  coming-in  and  surrendering  of 
more  than  150  Indians  and  negroes,  mostly  the 
former,  including  the  chiefs  Ou-la-too-chee,  Tus-ta- 
nug-gee,  and  other  principal  men,  the  capturing  and 
driving  out  of  the  country  six  hundred  head  of 
cattle,  upwards  of  one  hundred  head  of  horses,  be 
sides  obtaining  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  country 
through  which  the  troops  operated,  a  greater  portion 
of  which  was  entirely  unknown  except  to  the  enemy. 

Colonel  Taylor's  conduct  in  the  battle  of  Okee- 
chobee  was  duly  appreciated  by  the  Government. 
The  Secretary  of  War,  Mr.  Poinsett,  gave  him  the 
warmest  commendation  in  his  report  to  Congress; 
and  he  was  immediately  promoted  to  the  brevet 
lank  of  brigadier-general,  with  the  chief  command 
in  Florida.  His  head-quarters  were  in  the  neigh 
borhood  of  Tampa  Bay.  From  this  point  he 
directed  the  "  war  of  movements,"  so  difficult  and 
discouraging  to  an  ardent  officer,  until  1840,  when 
he  was  relieved  by  General  Armistead,  who  was 
ordered  to  take  the  command  in  Florida. 

The  Seminoles  had  eluded  pursuit  for  a  long  time 


334  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

previous  to  May,  1841,  when  the  conduct  of  the  war 
was  intrusted  to  Colonel  Worth.  Sickness  among 
the  men  impeded  his  operations,  but  he  was  soon 
able  to  compel  the  surrender  of  several  considerable 
detachments  of  hostile  Indians ;  and,  on  the  19th 
of  April,  1842,  he  succeeded  in  compelling  a  large 
body  of  Indians  to  fight  at  a  place  called  Palaklak- 
laha.  The  result,  as  might  have  been  anticipated, 
was  a  complete  defeat  of  the  enemy,  which  was  soon 
after  followed  by  the  surrender  of  one  of  the  leading 
chiefs  of  the  Indians  with  his  band. 

The  Florida  War  was  not  yet  ended.  Even  before 
Worth  left  the  territory  hostilities  had  recom 
menced  at  San  Pedro.  The  exasperation  and 
chagrin  of  the  inhabitants  broke  forth  into  loud 
murmurs  against  the  Government  and  the  army. 
Colonel  Yose  was  ordered  to  take  the  field  imme 
diately,  and  another  series  of  negotiations,  skir 
mishes,  butcheries,  and  hollow  truces,  ensued.  The 
details  might  well  fatigue,  but  could  not  please  or 
instruct,  the  reader.  It  may  be  sufficient  to  know 
that,  in  November,  Colonel  Worth,  lately  breveted 
brigadier-general,  resumed  the  command ;  that  a 
few  more  chiefs  were  captured,  a  few  driven  into 
the  everglades,  and  a  few  decoyed  and  afterwards 
retained;  that  several  hundred  Indians,  desolate, 
friendless,  and  heart-broken,  were  despatched  to  the 
West ;  that  the  military  force  was  now  reduced  and 
now  augmented,  according  as  the  war- temperament 
dictated  the  thermometer-like  policy ;  and  that  No 
vember,  1843,  has  generally  been  regarded  as  the 
time  when  this  whole  affair,  dignified  by  the  ap 
pellation  of  a  national  contest,  may  be  supposed  to 


NAYAL     EXPLOITS. 


335 


have  been  concluded.  That  fact  was  duly  announced 
by  General  Worth  in  a  despatch  to  the  adjutant- 
general. 

Since  that  time  peace  has,  with  few  interruptions, 
been  maintained.  The  Indian  warriors  now  in 
Florida  number  perhaps  150.  Recently  some  out 
rages  were  committed  which  caused  some  anxiety 
lest  the  war  was  about  to  be  renewed ;  but  it  is 
believed  that  no  plot  for  that  purpose  exists  among 
the  Indians. 


336 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


CORPUS    CHRIST  I. 


COMMENCEMENT  OF  THE  MEXICAN  WAK, 
AND  BATTLES  OF  PALO  ALTO  AND  KE- 
SACA  DE  LA  PALMA. 

IN  1844  General  Taylor  was  appointed  to  the 
command  of  the  army  of  observation  in  Texas.  His 
inarch  from  Corpus  Christi  to  the  Rio  Grande  is  a 
narration  of  wonderful  and  romantic  events.  The 
great  American  desert  was  to  be  crossed,  where  all 
vegetation  is  stunted  and  every  river  and  lake 
filled  with  salt  water.  Here  and  there  dense  prickly 
pears,  green  and  beautiful  in  the  distance,  mocked 
the  eye  with  the  appearance  of  cultivation  and 
plenty.  Then  streams,  cold  and  clear,  caused  the 
blood  to  thrill  through  the  veins  of  the  exhausted 
soldiers;  but  the  waters  were  salt  and  loathsome, 
and  on  tasting  them  the  troops  looked  upon  each 
other  with  fearful  foreboding.  Drooping  with  thirst 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  337 

and  weariness,  the  army  moved  over  the  burning 
sand,  their  feet  parched  and  blistered  with  the  heat 
and  their  cattle  dropping  at  every  step.  Men  who 
subsequently  faced  death  with  alacrity  now  grew 
still  and  melancholy;  and  their  unechoing  tread 
seemed  like  the  muffled  march  to  a  funeral. 

But  at  length  their  sufferings  terminated.  They 
emerged  from  the  desert,  and  far  in  the  distance  a 
white  line  was  observed  glittering  in  the  sun.  "Fresh 
water"  was  spoken  with  startling  energy,  and,  as 
though  accelerated  by  a  superhuman  impulse,  every 
man  sprung  onward.  Nearer  and  nearer  they  drew, 
until  the  waves  could  be  distinctly  recognised  spark 
ling  in  the  distance.  Now  their  eagerness  became 
uncontrollable.  Sweeping  along  in  rapid  marches, 
the  troops  reached  the  brink,  dashed  down  their 
arms  and  equipments,  and  rushed  in  headlong.  It 
was  a  moment  when  discipline  yields  to  necessity ; 
and  General  Taylor  exulted  and  revelled  with  his 
troops  as  the  commonest  soldier. 

On  the  28th  of  March  the  American  flag  was 
waving  on  the  banks  of  the  Rio  Grande.  Round 
their  national  banner  the  weary  troops  sat  down  to 
enjoy  once  more  the  luxury  of  rest.  They  had 
crossed  streams  and  deserts,  forded  rivers,  endured 
hardships  of  hunger,  thirst,  fatigue,  and  heat,  had 
captured  Point  Isabel  and  established  there  a  mili 
tary  depot.  The  limit  of  their  authority  was  reached, 
and  they  now  sat  down  on  the  great  river  to  await 
the  commencement  of  hostilities  or  an  order  to  re 
turn  home. 

The  death  of  Colonel  Cross,  and  subsequently  of 
Lieutenant  Porter,  roused  the  army  from  its  security. 

22 


338 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


Then  Captain  Thornton  with  his  command  was  cap 
tured,  and  immediately  after  the  Mexicans,  grown 
bold  by  success,  crossed  the  Rio  Grande  and  spread 
themselves  along  the  neighboring  plains.  Spies 
were  sent  out  from  the  American  fort;  but  one  by 
one  they  returned,  with  the  information  that  crowds 
were  still  crossing  and  that  all  communication  with 


CAPTURE  OF  CAPTAIN  THORNTON. 


Point  Isabel  was  cut  off.  A  period  dark  and  try 
ing  was  settling  over  the  army.  They  were  de 
prived  of  all  communication  with  the  government  or 
their  main  depot,  and  surrounded  by  a  hostile  army 
many  times  superior  to  themselves.  Yet  not  for  one 
moment  did  they  despond.  Confident  that  the  motto 
of  their  leader  was  "  Victory  or  Death,"  they  leaned 
upon  him  as  a  strong  pillar,  and  felt  that  there  was 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  339 

that  in  his  genius  and  firmness  which  must  finally 
insure  success.  Nor  was  this  confidence  diminished 
when  Captain  Walker,  of  the  Rangers,  arrived  at  the 
fort,  after  escaping  innumerable  dangers,  and  re 
ported  the  critical  condition  of  Point  Isabel. 

Aware  of  the  importance  of  reopening  his  com 
munication,  the  general  left  his  fort  on  the  1st  of 
May  for  the  purpose  of  cutting  his  way  to  Point 
Isabel.  Strange  to  say,  he  reached  it  in  safety,  re 
plenished  his  stores,  recruited  his  army,  and  set  out 
(May  7)  on  his  return.  That  night  the  troops  slept 
on  the  open  plain,  and  early  on  the  following  morn 
ing  recommenced  their  solitary  march.  At  noon 
they  reached  a  wide  prairie,  flanked  by  pools  of 
fresh  water  and  bounded  in  the  distance  by  long 
rows  of  chapparal.  In  front  of  the  latter  were  drawn 
up  in  battle-array  6000  Mexicans,  in  one  unbroken 
line  a  mile  in  length.  It  was  a  thrilling  sight.  Long 
rows  of  bayonets  glittering  in  the  sunbeams,  together 
with  the  lances  of  the  horsemen  and  hundreds  of 
pennants  and  national  flags,  formed  a  spectacle 
brilliant  and  exciting.  Undaunted  by  the  over 
whelming  numbers  of  their  adversaries,  each  soldier 
forgot  the  fatigues  of  the  journey  and  pressed  for 
ward  with  the  highest  enthusiasm.  Nearer  and 
i.earer  the  armies  approached,  until  but  six  hundred 
yards  intervened  between  them.  Then  suddenly  a 
roar  like  thunder  shook  the  ground,  and  volumes  of 
srnoke  burst  from  the  batteries  to  the  Mexican  left 
and  rolled  away  in  the  distance.  Battery  after  bat 
tery  followed  in  rapid  succession,  till  the  ground 
rocked  and  trembled,  the  whole  field  was  dense  with 
smoke,  and  the  balls  tore  up  the  earth  and  grass  in 


340  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

whirling  fragments.  For  a  few  minutes  there  was 
a  pause,  and  the  Americans  placed  their  guns  in  bat 
tery.  This  done,  the  action  commenced  in  earnest, 
Ringgold,  Duncan,  and  Churchill  sustaining  the 
whole  force  of  the  enemy's  fire.  At  every  discharge 
of  these  gallant  cannoneers  the  Mexican  cavalry 
reeled  to  and  fro,  while  scores  sunk  down  in  mangled 
masses  beneath  the  tread  of  their  companions.  The 
rattling  of  artillery-wagons  as  they  swept  to  different 
stations,  the  galloping  of  horses  and  rushing  of  armed 
men,  the  shouts  of  command  and .  moans  of  the 
dying,  mingled  fearfully  over  that  solitary  plain. 
Dismayed  by  the  havoc  of  his  cavalry,  the  Mexican 
general  collected  their  scattered  fragments  and  pre 
pared  for  a  charge.  At  this  movement  the  third 
and  fifth  infantry  regiments,  who  had  hitherto  taken 
no  part  in  the  battle,  were  ordered  forward  to  meet 
the  enemy.  But  the  huge  masses  bore  on  amid  a 
tremendous  fire  from  the  third  regiment,  assisted  by 
Ridgely's  guns,  until  they  arrived  at  the  fifth.  This 
was  formed  into  a  square  to  support  Lieutenant 
Ridgely.  That  brave  officer  planted  his  guns  in  the 
very  front  of  the  lancers,  and  rode  from  rank  to  rank 
arnid  showers  of  balls  and  bullets.  His  horse  fell 
dead;  and  four  others,  maddened  with  the  smoke  and 
uproar,  plunged  headlong  before  the  muzzles  of  the 
cannon  and  directly  between  the  two  armies.  There 
was  a  moment  of  sickening  dread,  for  without  horses 
the  artillery  would  be  unmanageable.  In  the  next 
Ridgely  sprang  forward  and  drew  the  animals  to 
their  stations.  A  pealing  shout  followed  this  daring 
action,  echoed  by  roars  of  artillery  and  the  hurry- 
ings  of  the  enemy's  retreat.  At  this  uncertain 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


341 


moment  Colonel  Twiggs  came  down  on  them  with 
the  third  infantry,  supported  by  Major  Ringgold. 
Heavy  balls  crushed  through  their  crowded  columns, 
mowing  down  whole  regiments  and  piling  man  and 
steed  in  one  long  black  line  of  death. 

While  the  cavalry  were  breaking  before  our  artil 
lery,  the  prairie  grass  became  ignited,  and  in  a  few 


BATTLE     OF     PALO    ALTO. 


moments  the  stirring  spectacle  of  a  prairie  on  fire 
was  added  to  the  more  terrible  one  of  a  battle. 
Thick  masses  of  smoke  rose  between  the  two  armies, 
hiding  them  from  each  other  and  from  the  light  of 
the  sun.  Gradually  the  work  of  death  slackened, 
until  at  last  silence  brooded  once  more  over  the 
plain,  interrupted  only  by  the  crackling  of  flames 
or  an  occasional  command. 

But   the  cessation  was  only  temporary.     Under 


342  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

cover  of  the  darkness,  each  army  formed  a  new  line 
of  battle,  and  after  an  hour's  intermission  the  action 
recommenced.  The  appetite  for  blood,  the  darker 
passions  of  human  nature,  had  been  aroused ;  and 
now  man  saw  his  brother  and  companion  fall  by  his 
side,  or  heard  from  every  quarter  the  shrieks  of  suf 
fering  wretches,  with  scarcely  one  feeling  of  com 
punction.  The  artillery  led  the  battle;  and  both 
armies  fought  with  a  heroism  rarely  surpassed  in  the 
history  of  American  warfare.  In  the  very  midst  of 
it,  one  man  rode  along  the  van  of  our  troops  on  a 
white  horse  and  exhorted  them  to  duty.  At  sight 
of  him  wild  shouts  of  exultation  rose  above  the 
shock  of  contending  armies,  and  each  soldier  forgot 
that  he  was  rioting  in  blood  and  danger. 

No  man  sustained  the  honor  of  his  country  better 
on  that  day  than  did  Major  Ringgold.  The  very 
soul  of  the  artillery-force,  he  watched  with  thrilling 
interest  the  effect  of  every  gun,  and  saw  with  the 
pride  of  a  soldier  the  terrible  havoc  in  the  enemy's 
ranks.  His  calm,  collected  bearing  and  chivalric 
bravery  were  the  admiration  of  every  beholder. 
Yet  he  was  to  shine  but  for  a  moment.  Death  had 
marked  him  as  its  victim  and  fixed  the  dear  price 
of  his  glory.  While  superintending  the  eighteen- 
pounders,  a  cannon-ball  struck  his  right  thigh,  passed 
completely  through  the  shoulders  of  his  horse  and 
out  through  his  left  thigh,  tearing  away  all  the 
muscles  that  opposed  its  course. 

The  last  charge  of  the  cavalry  was  met  by  Captain 
Duncan's  battery,  assisted  by  the  8th  infantry  and 
Ker's  dragoons.  Before  the  fire  of  these  companies 
the  horsemen  fell  back  in  confused  masses,  and  the 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  343 

day  was  won.  Night  brought  repose  to  tne  weary 
soldiers,  who  sank  upon  the  field  in  their  equip 
ments,  while  the  artillerists  lay  down  beside  their 
pieces. 

Thus  one  battle  was  won  ;  but  another,  more  dark 
snd  dreadful,  and  which  was  to  drive  the  Mexican 
from  Texas  forever,  was  in  reserve  for  the  following 
day.  At  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  (May  9)  the 
Americans  arrived  in  front  of  a  deep  gorge  known 
as  the  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  flanking  the  road  on  each 
side  and  covered  with  impenetrable  chapparal  of 
prickly  pear,  Spanish  needle,  and  other  thorny  plants. 
Here  the  legions  of  Mexico  had  concealed  their 
forces  and  were  awaiting  the  arrival  of  their  op 
ponents.  Heavy  batteries  were  posted  in  the  gorge 
so  as  to  rake  the  road  from  both  sides,  while  the 
infantry  should,  at  the  same  time,  employ  their 
musketry  from  the  chapparal.  The  cavalry  were 
stationed  so  as  to  support  the  rest  of  the  army  arid 
act  according  to  emergencies. 

About  four  o'clock  quick  discharges  of  musketry 
were  heard  in  the  direction  of  the  chapparal.  The 
battle  had  begun.  A  party  of  skirmishers  had  en 
gaged  some  Mexican  cavalry,  and,  after  retreating  a 
short  distance,  rallied,  and  in  turn  drove  back  their 
opponents.  Meanwhile  the  main  army  moved 
towards  the  gorge  at  a  rapid  march,  eager  to  finish 
the  work  commenced  at  Palo  Alto.  Riding  through 
their  columns,  the  commander  exhorted  each  man  to 
prepare  for  the  approaching  struggle  and  complete 
the  measure  of  their  worth  and  glory.  Shouts  of 
gratitude  and  exultation  gave  assurance  that  his 
words  were  not  idly  spoken.  Every  eye  flashed, 


344  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

every  bosom  heaved,  with  the  intensity  of  excite 
ment;  and  the  hurrying  tread  announced  that  very 
soon  the  two  armies  would  again  face  each  other  in 
mortal  strife. 

At  length,  when  near  the  Kesaca,  the  Mexican 
artillery  broke  forth  in  discharges  which  echoed  and 
re-echoed  along  the  gorge  and  ploughed  up  the 
ground  and  rocks  in  every  direction.  The  troops 
immediately  halted.  Then  one  regiment  after 
another  moved  towards  the  ravine,  regardless  of  the 
iron  shower  that  hailed  around  and  above  them.  In 
advance  of  all  was  Lieutenant  Ridgely,  whose  bat 
teries  poured  forth  uninterrupted  discharges  of  shot 
and  canister.  Closely  following  were  the  heavy 
columns  of  the  8th  infantry,  succeeded  by  the  re 
mainder  of  the  army.  For  thirty  minutes  the 
artillerists  stood  between  the  opposing  forces,  while 
the  balls  dashed  and  bounded  and  whistled  around 
them  and  the  wailings  of  mangled  companions  rung 
in  their  ears.  The  cavalry  dashed  upon  them  until 
the  horses  almost  leaped  upon  the  cannon ;  yet  they 
faltered  not.  Throwing  aside  all  superfluous  clothing, 
grim  with  smoke  and  powder,  and  sweltering  in  the 
burning  sun,  these  heroes  stood  hand  to  hand  with 
death,  and,  amid  blood  and  uproar  and  thunder, 
wrenched  victory  from  the  enemy.  Their  leader 
managed  a  gun  with  his  own  hand,  like  the  com 
monest  soldier,  and  refused  to  mount  his  horse  until 
the  cavalry  were  broken. 

A  shout,  terrible  to  the  Mexicans,  rang  from  the 
American  troops  on  beholding  this  retreat,  and  a 
pursuit  immediately  commenced.  Batteries  groaning 
with  heavy  cannon  were  wheeled  into  action,  and 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  345 

opened  upon  the  Americans.  Clamor  and  misery 
followed  their  course;  but  still  our  troops  pressed 
forward.  Then  the  flash  of  thousands  of  muskets 
burst  forth  from  the  chapparal,  which  seemed  as  a 
wall  of  living  fire.  Whole  companies  sunk  down 
beneath  the  feet  of  their  companions,  and  the  artil 
lery  was  almost  dismantled.  Still  the  soldiers 
advanced.  The  bursts  of  artillery,  the  roar  of  mus 
ketry,  and  shouts  of  command,  formed  a  scene 
incapable  of  description.  But,  dashing  through 
death  and  horror,  our  troops  reached  the  thicket 
and  sprang  forward  to  the  fierce  trial  of  the  bayonet. 
Suddenly  all  noise  was  hushed  save  that  sickening 
one  whose  short,  quick  sound  chills  the  blood, — the 
grating  of  bayonet  with  bayonet  as  they  leap  sternly 
at  opposing  bosoms.  Then  there  was  another  shout : 
the  chapparal  was  gained. 

Sure  of  victory,  the  troops  now  attempted  to  drive 
the  Mexicans  from  their  batteries.  But  here  their 
progress  was  arrested.  Manned  by  the  Tampico 
veterans,  and  commanded  by  the  brave  La  Vega, 
these  guns  swept  down  every  thing  before  them  and 
covered  the  retreat  of  the  infantry.  At  the  same 
time  the  cavalry  prepared  for  another  charge. 

Perceiving  that  nothing  decisive  could  .be  accom 
plished  while  the  Mexicans  retained  these  guns, 
General  Taylor  ordered  Captain  May  to  charge  them 
with  his  dragoons.  That  order  was  welcome.  As 
the  captain  rode  back  to  his  command,  each  eye  was 
bent  upon  him  with  an  almost  agonizing  expression. 
" Men/'  he  exclaimed,  "follow!"  and  instantly  that 
troop  were  plunging  towards  the  rocks  of  the  Resaca. 
On  they  swept,  like  some  living  thunderbolt,  until 


U6  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

they  reached  Colonel  Ridgely,  by  whom  they  were 
halted  till  he  had  drawn  the  enemy's  fire.  Then 
those  fiery  horsemen,  with  their  arms  bared  to  the 
shoulder  and  their  sabres  glittering  in  the  sun, 
swept  on  towards  the  opposing  batteries.  Grim  and 
silent,  the  enemy  awaited  their  approach,  with  the 
ignited  matches  close  to  the  cannon.  Nearer  and 
nearer  the  dragoons  approached ;  it  seemed  like 
mocking  death, — one  of  those  terrible  moments  when 
the  mind  dares  not  think.  A  roar  like  thunder 
broke  the  suspense,  and  eighteen  horses,  with  seven 
men,  reared  and  screamed  and  fell  dead.  Lieu 
tenant  Sackett  was  thrown  into  the  midst  of  the 
enemy ;  Lieutenant  Inge  was  shot  through  the 
throat.  But  naught  could  stop  the  survivors.  Leap 
ing  on  the  breaches  of  the  cannon,  they  overthrew 
the  cannoneers  and  drove  back  the  Tampico  regi 
ment  with  their  sabres.  These  were  repulsed  but  a 
moment;  they  rushed  back  to  their  stations,  seized 
the  horses'  bridles,  and  fought  hand  to  hand  with 
the  riders.  Again  they  were  rolled  back,  and  again 
returned,  climbing  over  heaps  of  their  fallen  com 
panions  and  planting  their  standard  by  the  principal 
battery.  La  Vega,  their  general,  black  with  the 
filth  of  battlo,  stood  among  his  fallen  heroes  and 
called  the  survivors  to  their  posts.  Nobly  did  they 
second  his  call,  and  closed  about  him  like  a  wall  of 
iron.  But,  concentrating  his  force,  May  again  rushed 
on  them,  breaking  their  ranks  and  capturing  La 
Vega  himself.  Slowly  and  sullenly  that  shattered 
band  left  their  guns.  Tearing  the  flag  from  its 
staff,  one  of  them  wrapped  it  around  his  body  and 
attempted  to  esuape,  but,  weary  and  wounded,  fell 
down  through  lo^s  of  blood  and  was  captured. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  317 


STORMING  OF  MONTEREY. 

AFTER  refreshing  his  troops  and  receiving  rein 
forcements,  General  Taylor  marched  for  Monterey, 
in  the  neighborhood  of  which  he  arrived  on  the  19th 
of  September. 

On  the  21st  this  strong  city  was  attacked  at  two 
stations  by  the  main  army,  while  General  Worth 
led  a  division  against  the  forts  on  a  neighboring 
hill.  The  details  of  this  fearful  struggle  are  a 
series  of  rapid  movements,  brilliant  assaults,  and 
chivalric  combats.  Generals  Twig^s  and  Butler, 
Colonel  May's  dragoons,  and  the  Texas  volunteers, 
became  involved  between  three  fires  directed  against 
them  from  strongly-built  forts.  Here,  hour  after 
hour,  they  stood  in  the  jaws  of  death,  while  the  old 
town  rocked  with  the  thunder  of  artillery, — com 
panions  dropping  on  every  side  and  the  balls  ringing 
and  whistling  in  showers  around  them.  High  over 
the  scene  of  slaughter  May  and  Twiggs  were  heard 
exhorting  their  heroes  to  the  charge ;  while  Butler's 
troops,  sweeping  on  with  the  bayonet,  overthrew  the 
opposing  cavalry  and  rushed  almost  to  the  guns  of 
the  fort.  But  Mexico  saw  her  danger,  and,  calling 
all  her  troops  around,  prepared  to  meet  it.  At  each 
burst  of  lurid  flame  the  balls  broke  and  crushed  the 
living  masses,  until  our  companies  were  completely 
riddled.  In  gloomy  rage  the  troops  were  torn  from 


348  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

the  bloody  scene,  while  the  shouts  of  exulting  Mexi 
cans  rent  the  air. 

But  the  triumph  of  the  latter  was  short.  Captain 
Backus,  having  climbed  upon  a  tannery  near  the 
fort,  poured  into  it  a  deadly  fire  of  musketry.  Be 
fore  the  astonishment  attending  this  unexpected 
attack  had  subsided,  General  Quitman  descended 
upon  it  like  a  torrent,  leaped  the  embrasures,  wheeled 
round  the  cannon,  and  drove  off  the  Mexicans  with 
the  bayonet. 

Now  the  battle  recommenced  with  renewed  fury. 
Exasperated  by  their  loss,  the  Mexicans  launched 
from  thirty  heavy  cannon  an  avalanche  of  liquid 
fire  that  tore  up  massive  stones  and  bulwarks  and 
scattered  them  into  the  air  like  leaves  in  autumn. 
Whole  sections  melted  under  this  appalling  shower, 
and  General  Butler  was  wounded  and  retired  from 
the  field.  The  rapid  charges  of  Colonel  Garland 
against  the  second  fort  were  unsuccessful,  and  the 
command  was  withdrawn  to  the  captured  station. 

About  this  time  a  body  of  lancers  wound  slowly 
round  the  wall  of  the  city,  towards  the  battery  op 
posite  the  citadel.  At  seeing  them  Captain  Bragg 
galloped  forward,  and,  by  a  few  well-directed  charges, 
drove  them  back  with  loss. 

On  the  23d  a  grand  attack  was  made  upon  all  the 
Mexican  stations.  Maddened  by  heavy  losses,  the 
American  Rangers  burst  into  the  houses,  tore  the 
skirmishers  from  the  windows,  and  bored  through 
the  side  walls  towards  the  central  plaza.  The  dull 
sound  of  the  pickaxe  contrasted  strangely  with 
those  terrible  reports  which  were  shaking  earth  and 
air  and  crushing  the  haughtiest  buildings.  Streets 


NAYAL     EXPLOITS.  349 

and  squares  were  thus  passed  until  the  troops  were 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  principal  plaza.  Here  they 
halted,  issued  from  the  houses,  and  commenced  a 
cannonade.  This  renewed  the  general  action.  Soon 
the  walls  of  the  great  cathedral  were  observed  to 
totter,  and  at  length,  with  an  awful  crash,  a  portion 
fell  inwards.  A  wild  shout  arose  from  the  assail 
ants,  the  cannon  ceased  for  one  moment,  and  then, 
dimly  borne  over  the  tumult,  came  the  wail  of  suf 
fering  anguish.  A  roar  of  artillery  succeeded,  as 
though  death  were  ashamed  that  its  work  should  be 
known.  Until  near  sunset  our  troops  toiled  and 
fought  and  wrestled  for  the  victory,  although  op 
posing  a  securely-intrenched  foe  of  three  times  their 
number.  They  were  then  withdrawn  to  await  the 
arrival  of  General  Worth's  division. 

This  officer,  after  capturing  the  Bishop's  Palace 
and  other  redoubts,  had  entered  the  city  arid  pene 
trated  towards  the  square  on  the  side  opposite  General 
Taylor.  Night,  however,  closed  the  scene  of  carnage, 
and  both  armies  prepared  for  a  final  struggle  on  the 
ensuing  day. 

On  the  24th  proposals  for  a  capitulation  were  re 
ceived  from  the  Mexican  General  Ampudia,  and 
negotiations  ensued  which  resulted  in  a  surrender 
of  the  city  and  public  stores  to  the  army  of  General 
Taylor.  The  enemy  marched  into  the  interior  on 
parole,  the  officers  and  soldiers  retaining  most  of 
their  arms,  together  with  a  battery  of  artillery. 


350 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


GENERAL     TAYLOR     AT     BUENA    VISTA. 


BATTLE  OF  BUENA  VISTA. 

BUENA  YISTA  is  a  small  village  about  seven  miles 
south  of  Saltillo.  At  some  distance  from  it  is  the 
deep  gorge  of  Angostura,  surrounded  by  rocks,  hills, 
and  ravines,  and  holding  the  key  of  a  position  which, 
for  defensive  warfare,  is  perhaps  not  surpassed  by 
any  other  on  the  continent.  Here,  with  his  little 
army  of  5000  men,  General  Taylor  waited  for  21,000 
under  the  best  general  in  Mexico.  It  was  a  brilliant 
sight  to  behold  that  host  stretching  over  the  distant 
hills  in  hurried  march  to  the  scene  of  slaughter. 
Far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  infantry,  cavalry,  and 
artillery  flashed  in  the  morning  sun  and  shaded  all 
the  plain.  Then  they  scattered  in  every  direction, 
arranging  their  artillery,  moving  into  line,  and 
choosing  stations  for  the  attack.  In  the  afternoon 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  351 

a  party  of  lancers  wound  round  the  heights  to  the 
left  of  the  American  position,  with  the  intention  of 
making  a  charge.  They  were  followed  by  some 
infantry  companies  and  one  of  artillery,  who  com 
menced  an  attack  in  that  quarter.  The  noise  of 
cannon  sounded  strangely  along  those  solitary  cliffs, 
and  the  echoes  bounded  from  one  to  the  other  as 
though  in  playful  mockery.  Considerable  skirmish 
ing  took  place,  and  the  troops  of  both  armies 
manoeuvred  till  night. 

Scarcely  had  daylight  appeared  in  the  east  on  the 
23d  of  September,  1846,  than  the  trampling  of  men, 
the  gallop  of  horses,  and  the  roar  of  cannon,  told 
that  the  fearful  drama  was  opening.  Keinforced 
during  the  night,  the  enemy  now  poured  upon  our 
left  a  living  mass  that  seemed  clad  in  fire  and  steel. 
All  along  that  moving,  shouting  mass,  thousands  of 
muskets  united  their  startling  volleys,  while  a  pall 
of  smoke  rolled  along  the  rocky  heights  and  hid 
the  combatants  from  view.  Yet,  in  that  terrible 
moment,  ere  the  excitement  of  contest  had  strung 
the  nerves  to  indifference,  Colonel  Marshall  beheld 
unmoved  the  rushings  of  an  army,  and,  calling  his 
little  band  around  him,  prepared  for  their  charge. 
Gallantly  did  they  wrestle  for  victory  for  three 
dreadful  hours,  till  many  a  gallant  form  sank  low 
and  the  sharp  rocks  ran  red  with  human  blood. 
When  the  sun  arose  the  armies  were  rushing  and 
roiling  over  the  bloody  plain,  while  high  over  all 
the  din  of  war  soared  above  the  scene  and  rolled  in 
broken  echoes  in  the  distance. 

Yet  this  was  but  the  beginning  of  the  fray.  At 
eight  o'clock  one  dense,  deep  column  came  on  in 


352  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

steady  movement  against  the  American  centre.  The 
eye  of  Washington  and  his  artillerists  watched  their 
movement  as  he  waited  in  stern  silence  their  ap 
proach.  On  they  came,  over  rocks  and  ledges 
and  ravines,  rising  and  lowering  as  if  the  whole 
mass  were  gifted  with  one  soul.  They  passed 
artillery-range,  and  a  wild  shout  arose, — the  fond 
anticipation  of  victory.  Ere  its  tones  had  ebbed 
away  another  noise  was  heard, — the  sound  of  death. 
From  side  to  side  of  that  living  column  the  heavy 
balls  ploughed  their  maddening  way,  sweeping  down 
the  young,  the  brave,  the  ambitious,  in  weltering 
heaps.  Then  the  thrilling  cries  of  command,  the 
dosing  of  the  severed  ranks,  and  the  onward  tread, 
succeeded.  But  a  second  and  a  third  time  that 
dread  battery  poured  forth,  tearing  and  scattering 
the  column  like  the  sweep  of  a  hurricane.  Panic- 
struck,  the  lines  rolled  back ;  and,  when  another  roar 
came  forth,  thousands  sent  up  a  yell  of  horror,  and 
rushed  back  over  groaning  piles  and  flying  masses, 
leaving  behind  them  their  bleeding,  dying  comrades. 

With  grief  and  dismay  the  Mexican  general 
beheld  the  rout  of  this  column,  and  prepared  to 
redeem  it.  Under  cover  of  the  rocks,  his  cavalry 
and  a  large  infantry  force  united  in  one  body  and 
issued  forth  to  assault  the  left  wing.  This  had  been 
the  first  point  of  attack,  and  was  now  reinforced  by 
the  Illinois  and  Indiana  regiments  and  the  artillery 
of  Captain  O'Brien. 

Riding  along  his  lines,  General  Lane  pointed  to 
the  coming  hosts  and  called  on  each  man  to  re 
member  that  he  was  an  American.  Throwing  the 
artillery  rapidly  forward,  he  ordered  the  second 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  353 

Indiana  regiment  to  support  it,  and,  placing  himself 
by  the  soldiers  of  Illinois,  watched  the  progress  of 
his  foe.  They  came  in  massive  column,  certain  of 
victory,  shouting*  as  though  in  pursuit.  Then  the 
battle  opened.  Every  eye  was  fixed  upon  this 
quarter,  and  many  a  brave  heart,  who  all  that  morn 
ing  had  toiled  amid  blood  and  death,  now  grew  sick 
at  the  anticipated  result.  Sweeping  through  the 
heavy  Mexican  phalanx,  the  shot  mowed  down 
whole  columns  and  levelled  the  cavalry  like  an 
Alpine  storm ;  yet  sternly  the  lines  closed,  and,  with 
out  giving  a  glance  at  the  wounded,  pressed  on. 
Then  another  road  opened  ;  swords  and  mangled 
masses  flew  in  the  air,  and  scores  of  horses  rolled 
over  each  other  in  death.  Yet  now  the  blood  of 
Mexico  was  aroused.  With  pale,  compressed  lips, 
and  eyes  that  flashed  fire,  they  spurned  the  dead 
beneath  their  feet  and  pressed  forward.  The  Ame 
rican  force  began  to  melt  at  their  approach,  and  the 
artillery  was  surrounded  with  the  dead.  But,  sweep 
ing  over  the  field  through  death  and  smoke,  General 
Lane  urged  his  troops  to  be  firm ;  while  O'Brien, 
leaping  from  his  horse,  seized  a  gun,  and,  though  the 
balls  leaped  and  whistled  around  him,  kept  the 
artillerists  to  their  guns.  Now  a  horse  would  plunge 
and  fall  dead ;  then  a  ball  would  tear  a  comrade  from 
his  side  and  sweep  amid  the  supporting  infantry. 
Still  the  battle  went  on,  rocking  and  thundering  in 
the  mountains  and  flaming  along  the  plain  like  the 
eruption  of  a  volcano. 

But  there  was  a  page  dark  and  unfortunate  in  this 
tale  of  glory.  At  this  moment,  when  the  energies  of 
every  man  were  required  to  insure  victory,  the  In- 

23 


354  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

diana  regiment  moved  rapidly  from  their  station 
and  commenced  an  inglorious  retreat.  Appalled  at 
the  sight,  the  staff-officers  galloped  across  their  path, 
and,  seizing  the  regimental  colors,  culled  on  the  troops 
to  remember  their  country.  But  the  appeal  was 
vain.  A  few  brave  spirits  disengaged  themselves 
from  the  mass;  but  the  rest  left  the  field  and  its 
glory  to  be  won  by  worthier  hands. 

Inspired  by  this  success,  the  Mexicans  poured  on 
in  exulting  shouts  which  drowned  the  hurry  of  battle. 
Sure  of  victory,  each  lancer  rose  in  his  stirrup  and 
dashed  down  on  the  artillery  in  the  fiercest  haste. 
Yet  those  gallant  few  were  undismayed.  Exhausted 
with  incessant  labor,  and  deserted  by  their  infantry, 
they  bore  up  through  danger  and  uproar  until  every 
horse  was  killed  or  wounded,  and  but  a  few  men, 
standing  here  and  there,  told  where  the  company 
had  been.  Yet  the  stern  captain  refused  to  yield, 
until  his  soldiers,  less  in  number  than  the  cannon, 
fell  into  confusion.  Then,  remounting  his  wounded 
horse,  he  sullenly  ordered  a  retreat :  the  next  moment 
the  opposing  cavalry  dashed  on  the  battery  and  his 
guns  were  lost. 

But  at  that  moment  the  shrill  voice  of  General 
Wool  came  ringing  over  the  field : — "  Illinois,  Illinois 
to  the  rescue !"  and  then  the  fiery  sons  of  the  West, 
panting  for  conflict  and  revenge,  opened  their  volleys 
of  musketry.  But  that  living  avalanche  was  not  to 
be  stopped.  Then  the  Mississippians  planted  them 
selves  in  the  fatal  path  and  awaited  the  struggle. 
All  around,  farther  than  sight  could  reach,  horse 
men,  artillery,  and  infantry,  were  concentrating  upon 
these  devoted  regiments.  The  wild  blood  danced 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  355 

through  every  form,  and  hope  and  fear  were  in 
tensely  bent  upon  one  point.  Still  the  tall  form  of 
Wool  was  seen  gliding  from  company  to  company, 
shouting  that  stirring  appeal  and  filling  every  heart 
with  fire. 

But  before  the  charge  another  voice  was  heard, 
more  thrilling,  more  potent,  than  that  of  Wool. 
Sweeping  along  on  his  white  horse,  General  Taylor 
rode  between  the  armies,  while  his  name  went  up 
from  three  thousand  voices,  and  each  soul  was  wound 
to  enthusiasm  at  the  mighty  shout.  Before  that  wild 
battle-cry  was  over  the  Mexicans  were  "towering 
upon  our  troops  for  the  final  struggle.  Then  Captain 
Bragg  galloped  into  battery,  and  the  next  moment 
thousands  of  rifles,  muskets,  and  heavy  ordnance, 
were  scattering  death  amid  opposing  multitudes. 
The  armies  reeled  to  and  fro  under  the  dreadful  dis 
charges,  while  whole  ranks  sank  down  beneath  their 
comrades'  feet.  The  reputation  of  each  nation,  each 
general,  each  soldier,  was  at  stake.  Again  and  again 
the  enemy  were  poured  upon  our  ranks,  and  as  often 
rolled  back  before  the  showers  of  iron  hail  that 
crushed  and  overwhelmed  their  columns.  Sometimes 
there  was  a  pause,  and  the  moans  of  the  dying  and 
shrieks  of  the  wounded  rose  on  the  air.  Then  the 
battling,  the  trampling  and  shouting,  mingled  in  one 
horrible  din  and  mounted  up  to  heaven.  Nobly  did 
our  troops  do  their  duty.  Every  advance  of  the 
Mexicans  was  met  with  unshaken  fortitude,  and 
each  soldier  fought  as  though  victory  rested  with 
him.  Broken  and  repulsed,  the  enemy  commenced 
their  disastrous  retreat.  Strewn  over  the  lelges 
and  gullies,  or  piled  in  black  masses,  their  dead  and 


356  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

disabled  marked  the  whole  line  of  their  march.  Yet 
over  these  the  terrified  lancers  rode,  grinding  them 
into  the  earth  and  completing  what  the  artillery 
had  begun.  Ranks  were  trodden  down  by  their 
comrades  or  whirled  over  the  slippery  rocks.  Then 
they  burst  among  the  infantry,  overthrowing  column 
after  column  and  scattering  the  flower  of  the  army 
like  chaff.  On  the  shouting  Americans  poured, 
blighting  those  splendid  companies  with  their  terrible 
discharges  and  sweeping  the  entire  field.  Still  the 
war-cry  of  Wool,  the  shout  for  Taylor,  went  up  and 
urged  the  troops  to  pursuit.  Far  in  advance  of  their 
companions,  the  Kentucky  regiment,  under  Clay  and 
McKee,  pushed  after  the  fugitives  until  they  became 
entangled  among  the  ravines  and  passes  on  the  left. 
Seizing  this  favorable  moment,  the  cavalry  wheeled 
around  and  attacked  these  troops  with  their  whole 
force,  and  the  fearful  work  once  more  commenced. 
All  day  those  gallant  sons  of  Kentucky  had  toiled 
and  fought ;  and  now,  pent  up  among  rocky  gorges 
and  facing  an  entire  army,  they  struggled  on  till 
night.  Their  colonels  fell  dead;  but  round  their 
bodies  the  soldiers  gathered  and  fought  hand  to  hand 
with  their  cruel  foe.  But  the  contest  was  too  un 
equal.  Back  through  the  ravines  where  they  had 
lately  passed  in  triumphant  pursuit  they  were  now 
driven,  and  the  day  once  more  seemed  lost.  But 
the  artillery  again  met  the  enemy,  drove  them 
back,  and  secured  the  victory.  General  Taylor  had 
triumphed. 

Overcome  by  exhaustion,  the  Americans  sank 
upon  the  field  in  their  equipments,  and  night  closed 
upon  the  scene  of  slaughter.  Two  thousand,  friends 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  357 

and  foes,  were  already  on  the  field,  dead,  dying,  and 
wounded.  Groans  of  agony,  shrieks  of  pain,  had 
succeeded  to  the  thrilling  shouts  of  the  day,  and 
were  making  night  hideous.  In  the  morning  those 
mangled  heaps  were  bounding  and  elastic  with  life ; 
now  they  were  maimed  forever. 

This  great  battle,  by  far  the  most  remarkable  of 
the  war,  was  the  last  military  achievement  of  Gene 
ral  Taylor. 


358 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


TEEA     CRUZ. 


SIEGE  OF  YERA  CRUZ. 

SOON  after  the  commencement  of  actual  hostilities 
between  the  United  States  and  Mexico,  Scott  re 
quested  permission  of  Government  to  join  General 
Taylor  with  a  large  army  and  push  forward  for  the 
enemy's  capital.  This  was  denied  him,  and  he 
remained  at  Washington  until  November.  Receiving 
orders  to  proceed  to  the  seat  of  war,  he  embarked 
from  New  York,  and  reached  the  mouth  of  the  Rio 
Grande,  January  1,  1847.  After  mustering  an 
army  of  nearly  12,000  men,  part  of  them  from 
General  Taylor's  force,  he  proceeded  against  the  city 
and  castle  of  Vera  Cruz,  the  first  object  of  his  cam 
paign.  The  following  graphic  description  of  the 
landing  of  the  troops  and  siege  of  the  city  is  from 
the  pen  of  an  eye-witness  : — 

"  On  the  5th  day  of  March,  1847,  while  the  Arae- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  359 

riean  squadron  was  lying  at  Anton  Lizardo,  a  norther 
sprang  up  and  commenced  blowing  with  great  vio 
lence.  The  ships  rolled  and  pitched,  and  tugged  at 
their  anchors  as  if  striving  to  tear  them  from  their 
hold,  while  the  sea  was  white  with  foam.  About 
noon,  General  Scott's  fleet  of  transports,  destined  for 
lire  reduction  of  Vera  Cruz,  came  like  a  great  white 
cloud  bearing  down  before  the  storm.  The  whole 
eastern  horizon  looked  like  a  wall  of  canvas.  Vessel 
after  vessel  came  flying  in  under  reduced  sail,  until 
the  usually  quiet  harbor  was  crowded  with  them.  A 
perfect  wilderness  of  spars  and  rigging  met  the  eye 
at  every  turn ;  and  for  five  days  all  was  bustle, 
activity,  and  excitement.  Officers  of  the  two  ser 
vices  were  visiting  about  from  ship  to  ship ;  drums 
were  beating,  bands  of  music  playing,  and  every 
thing  told  of  an  approaching  conflict. 

"  On  the  10th  the  army  were  conveyed  in  huge 
surf-boats  from  the  transports  to  the  different  ships- 
of-war,  which  immediately  got  under  way  for  Vera 
Cruz.  During  the  passage  down  to  the  city  I  was 
in  the  foretop  of  the  United  States  sloop-of-war 
Albany,  from  which  place  I  had  a  good  view  of  all 
that  occurred.  It  was  a  'sight  to  see!'  The  tall 
ehips-of-war  sailing  leisurely  along  under  their  top 
sails,  their  decks  thronged  in  every  part  with  dense 
masses  of  troops,  whose  bright  muskets  and  bayonets 
were  flashing  in  the  sunbeams,  the  jingling  of  spurs 
and  sabres,  the  bands  of  music  playing,  the  hum  of 
the  multitude  rising  up  like  the  murmur  of  the  dis 
tant  ocean,  the  small  steamers  plying  about,  their 
decks  crowded  with  anxious  spectators,  the  long 
lines  of  surf  boats  towing  astern  of  the  shirs,  ready 


360  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

to  disembark  the  troops, — all  these  tended  to  render 
the  scene  one  of  the  deepest  interest. 

"About  three  o'clock  P.M.  the  armada  arrived 
abreast  of  the  little  desert  island  of  Sacrificia,  where 
the  time-worn  walls  and  battlements  of  Vera  Cruz 
and  the  old  grim  castle  of  San  Juan  d'Ulloa,  with 
their  ponderous  cannon,  tier  upon  tier,  basking  in 
the  yellow  rays  of  the  sun,  burst  upon  our  view.  It 
was  a  most  beautiful — nay,  a  sublime — sight,  that 
embarkation.  I  still  retained  my  position  in  the  fore- 
top,  and  was  watching  every  movement  with  the 
most  anxious  interest;  for  it  was  thought  by  many 
that  the  enemy  would  oppose  the  landing  of  our 
troops.  About  four  o'clock  the  huge  surf-boats, 
each  capable  of  conveying  100  men,  were  hauled 
to  the  gangways  of  the  different  men-of-war,  and 
quickly  laden  with  their  '  warlike  fraughtage.' 
formed  in  a  single  line,  nearly  a  mile  in  length, 
and,  at  a  given  signal,  commenced  slowly  moving 
towards  the  Mexican  shore.  It  was  a  grand  spec 
tacle  !  On,  on  went  the  long  range  of  boats,  loaded 
down  to  the  gunwales  with  brave  men,  the  rays  of 
the  slowly-departing  sun  resting  upon  their  uniforms 
and  bristling  bayonets  and  wrapping  the  far-inland 
and  fantastic  mountains  of  Mexico  in  robes  of  gold. 
On  they  went,  the  measured  stroke  of  the  countless 
oars  mingling  with  the  hoarse  dull  roar  of  the 
trampling  surf  upon  the  sandy  beach  and  the 
shriek  of  the  myriads  of  sea-birds  soaring  high  in 
air,  until  the  boats  struck  the  shore,  and,  quick  as 
thought,  our  army  began  to  land.  At  this  instant 
the  American  flag  was  planted,  and,  unrolling  its 
folds,  floated  proudly  out  upon  the  evening  breeze ; 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  361 

the  crews  of  the  men-of-war  made  the  welkin  ring 
with  their  fierce  cheering;  and  a  dozen  bands  of 
music,  at  the  same  time,  and  as  if  actuated  by  one 
impulse,  struck  up — 

"  *  'Tis  the  star-spangled  banner  !  Oh,  long  may  it  wave 
O'er  the  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave !' 

"  Early  the  next  morning  the  old  grim  castle  of 
San  Juan  d'Ulloa  commenced  trying  the  range  of  its 
heavy  guns,  throwing  Paixhan  shells  at  the  enemy, 
and  continued  it  at  intervals  for  a  week ;  but,  with 
the  exception  of  an  occasional  skirmish  with  a  party 
of  the  enemy's  lancers,  they  had  all  the  fun  to  them 
selves.  In  the  mean  time  our  forces  went  quietly 
on  with  their  preparations,  stationing  their  pickets, 
planting  their  heavy  mortars,  landing  their  horses, 
provisions,  and  munitions  of  war,  constantly  annoyed 
with  a  ceaseless  fire  from  the  Mexican  batteries, 
which  our  troops  were  as  yet  too  busy  to  return. 

"  On  the  24th  Lieutenant  Oliver  Hazard  Perry, 
with  a  zeal  worthy  of  his  illustrious  father,  c  the 
hero  of  Lake  Erie,'  dismounted  one  of  the  waist- 
guns  of  the  Albany,  a  sixty-eight-pounder,  procured 
a  number  of  volunteers  who  would  willingly  have 
charged  up  to  the  muzzles  of  the  Mexican  cannon 
with  such  a  leader,  and,  taking  about  forty  rounds 
of  Paixhan  shells,  proceeded  on  shore,  where,  after 
dragging  his  gun  through  the  sand  for  three  miles, 
he  arrived  at  a  small  fortification  which  the  engineers 
had  constructed  of  sand-bags  for  him,  and  there 
planted  his  engine  of  destruction  in  a  situation 
which  commanded  the  whole  city  of  Yera  Cruz. 
Roused  by  such  a  gallant  example,  guns  from  each 


362  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

of  the  other  ships  of  the  squadron  were  disembarked 
and  conveyed  to  the  breastwork,  which  was  as  ye* 
concealed  from  the  eyes  of  the  Mexicans  by  being 
in  the  rear  of  an  almost  impervious  chapparal,  and 
in  a  short  time  a  most  formidable  fortress  was  com 
pleted,  which  was  styled  the  Naval  Battery. 

"At  this  period  General  Scott,  having  quietly 
made  all  his  arrangements  while  a  constant  shower 
of  shot  and  shell  were  thrown  at  his  army  by  the 
enemy,  sent  a  flag  of  truce,  with  a  summons  for  the 
immediate  surrender  of  the  city  of  Vera  Cruz  and 
the  castle  of  San  Juan  d'Ulloa,  and  with  a  full  un 
derstanding  that  unless  his  demand  was  immediately 
complied  with  an  attack  would  follow.  As  a  mat 
ter  of  course,  the  Mexicans,  expecting  an  assault, 
for  which  they  were  well  prepared,  and  not  a  bom 
bardment,  returned  an  indignant  refusal,  and  were 
told  that  at  four  o'clock  P.M.  they  should  hear 
further  from  us.  In  the  mean  time  the  chapparal 
had  been  cut  away,  disclosing  the  Naval  Battery  to 
the  gaze  of  the  astonished  Mexicans,  and  the  mortars 
and  heavy  artillery  which  had  been  planted  upon 
the  hills  overlooking  the  city  and  were  ready  to 
vomit  forth  their  fires  of  death.  Every  person  was 
now  waiting  with  trembling  anxiety  the  commence 
ment  of  the  fray. 

"  About  four  o'clock  P.M.,  while  the  crews  of  the 
squadron  were  all  at  supper,  a  sudden  and  tre 
mendous  roar  of  artillery  on  shore  proclaimed  that 
the  battle  had  begun.  The  tea-things  were  left  to 
'take  care  of  themselves,'  and  pellmell  tumbled  sick 
and  well  up  the  ladders  to  the  spar-deck.  I  followed 
with  the  human  tide,  and  soon  found  myself  in  the 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  363 

foretop  of  the  Albany,  and,  looking  around  me,  a 
sublime  but  terrific  sight  my  elevated  perch  pre 
sented  to  the  view.  Some  two  hundred  sail  of 
vessels  were  lying  immediately  around  us,  their 
tops,  cross-trees,  yards,  shrouds, — every  thing  where 
a  foothold  could  be  obtained, — crowded  with  human 
beings,  clustered  like  swarming  bees  in  midsummer 
on  the  trees,  all  intently  watching  the  battle.  I 
turned  my  eyes  on  shore.  JONATHAN  had  at  last 
awakened  from  his  slumber  and  had  set  to  work  in 
earnest.  Bomb-shells  were  flying  like  hailstones 
into  Yera  Cruz  from  every  quarter;  sulphureous 
flashes,  clouds  of  smoke,  and  the  dull  boom  of  the 
heavy  guns,  arose  from  the  walls  of  the  city  in  re 
turn,  while  ever  and  anon  a  red  sheet  of  flame 
would  leap  from  the  great  brass  mortars  on  the 
ramparts  of  the  grim  castle,  followed  by  a  report 
which  fairly  made  the  earth  tremble.  The  large 
ships  of  the  squadron  could  not  approach  near 
enough  to  the  shore  to  participate  in  the  attack 
upon  the  city  without  exposing  them  to  the  fire  of 
the  castle;  but  all  the  gun-boats,  small  steamers, 
and  every  thing  that  could  be  brought  to  bear  upon 
the  enemy,  were  sent  in  and  commenced  blazing 
away : — a  steady  stream  of  fire,  like  the  red  glare  of 
a  volcano !  This  state  of  things  continued  until 
sunset,  when  the  small  vessels  were  called  off;  but 
the  mortars  kept  throwing  shells  into  the  devoted 
town  the  livelong  night.  I  was  watching  them 
until  after  midnight,  and  it  was  one  of  the  most 
striking  displays  that  I  ever  beheld. 

"  A  huge  black  cloud  of  smoke  hung  like  a  pall 
over  the  American  army,  completely  concealing  it 


364  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

from  view ;  the  Mexicans  had  ceased  firing,  in  order 
to  prevent  our  troops  from  directing  their  guns  by 
the  flashes  from  the  walls;  but  the  bombardiers  had 
obtained  the  exact  range  before  dark,  and  kept 
thundering  away,  every  shell  falling  directly  into 
the  doomed  city.  Suddenly  a  vivid,  lightning-like 
flasl.  would  gleam  for  an  instant  upon  the  black  pall 
of  smoke  hanging  over  our  lines,  and  then,  as  the 
roar  of  the  great  mortar  came  borne  to  our  ears,  the 
ponderous  shell  would  be  seen  to  dart  upwards  like  a 
meteor,  and,  after  describing  a  semicircle  in  the  air, 
descend  with  a  loud  crash  upon  the  housetops  or 
into  the  resounding  streets  of  the  fated  city.  Then, 
after  a  brief  but  awful  moment  of  suspense,  a  lurid 
glare,  illuminating  for  an  instant  the  white  domes 
and  grim  fortresses  of  Vera  Cruz,  falling  into  ruins 
with  the  shock,  and  the  echoing  crash  that  came 
borne  to  our  ears,  told  that  the  shell  had  exploded 
and  executed  its  terrible  mission ! 

"  Throughout  the  whole  night  these  fearful  missiles 
were  travelling  into  the  city  in  one  continued  stream; 
but  the  enemy  did  not  return  the  fire.  At  daylight, 
however,  the  Mexicans  again  opened  their  batteries 
upon  our  army  with  the  most  determined  bravery. 

"  About  eight  o'clock  A.  M.  the  gallant  Perry  and 
his  brave  associates,  having  finished  the  mounting 
of  their  guns  and  completed  all  their  arrangements, 
opened  with  a  tremendous  roar  the  Naval  Battery 
upon  the  west  side  of  the  city,  and  were  imme 
diately  answered  from  four  distinct  batteries  of  the 
enemy.  The  firm  earth  trembled  beneath  the  dis 
charge  of  these  ponderous  guns,  and  the  shot  flew 
like  hail  into  the  town,  and.  were  returned  with 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  365 

interest  by  the  Mexicans.  Their  heavy  guns  were 
served  with  wonderful  precision ;  and  almost  every 
shot  struck  the  little  fort,  burst  open  the  sand-bags 
of  which  it  was  constructed,  and  covered  our  brave 
officers  and  men  with  a  cloud  of  dust.  Many  shot 
and  shell  were  thrown  directly  through  the  embra 
sures  ;  and,  to  use  the  expression  of  one  of  our  old  tars 
who  had  been  in  several  engagements,  '  The  red-skins 
handled  their  long  thirty-twos  as  if  they  had  been 
rifles!'  Several  of  our  men  and  one  officer  had 
fallen;  but  the  remainder  of  the  brave  fellows  kept 
blazing  away,  while  the  forts  and  ramparts  of  the 
city  began  to  crumble  to  the  earth.  This  state  of 
things  continued  until  the  27th,  the  army  throwing 
a  constant  shower  of  bombs  into  the  city,  and  the 
Naval  Battery  (manned  daily  by  fresh  officers  and 
men)  beating  down  the  fortifications  and  destroy 
ing  every  thing  within  its  range,  when  a  flag  of 
truce  was  sent  out  with  an  offer,  which  was  imme 
diately  accepted,  of  an  unconditional  surrender  of 
the  city  of  Vera  Cruz  and  the  castle  of  San  Juan 
d'Ulloa." 


366 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


GENERAL     SHIELDS     WOUNDED. 

BATTLE  OF  CERRO  GORDO. 

GENERAL  SCOTT  remained  about  two  weeks  at  Vera 
Cruz  and  then  set  out  for  the  capital.  On  the  17th 
of  April  he  arrived  at  the  pass  of  Cerro  Gordo,  where 
General  Santa  Anna  was  intrenched  with  11,000 
men.  On  the  same  day  Scott  issued  the  following 
celebrated  order : — 

"  The  enemy's  whole  line  of  in  trench  ments  and 
batteries  will  be  attacked  in  front,  and  at  the  same 
time  turned,  early  in  the  day  to-morrow, — probably 
before  ten  o'clock  A.M. 

"The  second    (Twiggs's)   division   of  regulars  is 
already  advanced  within    easy  turning-distance  to 
wards  the  enemy's  left.     That  division  has  orders  to 
move  forward  before  daylight  to-morrow  and  take 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  367 

up  position  across  the  National  Road  to  the  enemy's 
rear,  so  as  to  cut  off  a  retreat  towards  Jalapa.  It 
may  be  reinforced  to-day,  if  unexpectedly  attacked 
in  force,  by  regiments  one  or  two,  taken  from 
Shields's  brigade  of  volunteers.  If  not,  the  two 
volunteer  regiments  will  march  for  that  purpose  at 
daylight  to-morrow  morning,  under  Brigadier-Gehe- 
ral  Shields,  who  will  report  to  Brigadier-General 
Twiggs  on  getting  up  with  him,  or  the  general-in- 
chief,  if  he  be  in  advance. 

"  The  remaining  regiment  of  that  volunteer  bri 
gade  will  receive  instructions  in  the  course  of  this  day. 

"  The  first  division  of  regulars  (Worth's)  will  fol 
low  the  movement  against  the  enemy's  left  at  sun 
rise  to-morrow  morning. 

"As  already  arranged,  Brigadier-General  Pillow's 
brigade  will  inarch  at  six  o'clock  to-morrow  morning 
along  the  route  he  has  carefully  reconnoitred,  and 
stand  ready  as  soon  as  he  hears  the  report  of  arms 
on  our  right — sooner,  if  circumstances  should  favor 
him — to  pierce  the  enemy's  line  of  batteries  at  such 
point — the  nearer  the  river  the  better — as  he  may 
select.  Once  in  the  rear  of  that  line,  he  will  turn  to 
the  right  01  left,  or  both,  and  attack  the  batteries  in 
reverse,  or,  if  abandoned,  he  will  pursue  the  enemy 
with  vigor  until  further  orders. 

"  Wall's  field-battery  and  the  cavelry  will  be  held 
in  reserve  on  the  National  Road,  a  little  out  of  view 
and  range  of  the  enemy's  batteries.  They  will  take 
up  that  position  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

'  The  enemy's  batteries  being  carried  or  aban 
doned,  all  our  divisions  and  corps  will  pursue  with 
vigor. 


368  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

"  This  pursuit  may  be  continued  many  miles,  un 
til  stopped  by  darkness  or  fortified  positions  towards 
Jalapa.  Consequently  the  body  of  the  army  will 
not  return  to  this  encampment,  but  be  followed  to 
morrow  afternoon,  or  early  the  next  morning,  by 
the  baggage-trains  for  the  several  corps.  For  this 
purpose  the  feebler  officers  and  men  of  each  corps 
will  be  left  to  guard  his  camp  and  effects  and  to  load 
up  the  latter  in  the  wagons  of  the  corps. 

"As  soon  as  it  shall  be  known  that  the  enemy's 
works  have  been  carried,  or  that  the  general  pursuit 
has  been  commenced,  one  wagon  for  each  regiment 
and  one  for  the  cavalry  will  follow  the  movement, 
to  receive,  under  the  directions  of  medical  officers, 
the  wounded,  who  will  be  brought  back  to  this  place 
for  treatment  in  the  general  hospital. 

"  The  surgeon-general  will  organize  this  important 
service  and  designate  that  hospital,  as  well  as  the 
medical  officers  to  be  left  at  that  place. 

"  Every  man  who  marches  out  to  attack  or  pursue 
the  enemy  will  take  the  usual  allowance  of  ammuni 
tion,  and  subsistence  for  at  least  two  days." 

This  document  is  famous  for  its  exact  delineation 
of  every  movement  of  the  battle,  with  one  single  ex 
ception,  the  day  before  the  action  really  took  place. 
This  is  shown  by  the  annexed  report,  written  after 
the  engagement : — - 

"  The  plan  of  attack  sketched  in  General  Orders 
No.  Ill,  herewith,  was  finely  executed  by  this  gal 
lant  army  before  two  o'clock  P.M.  yesterday.  We 
are  quite  embarrassed  with  the  results  of  victory, — 
prisoners  of  war,  heavy  ordnance,  field-batteries, 
email  arms,  and  accoutrements.  About  3000  men 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  369 

laid  down  their  arms,  with  the  usual  proportion  of 
field  and  company  officers,  besides  five  generals, 
several  of  them  of  great  distinction, — Pinson,  Jarrero, 
La  Vega,  Noriega,  and  Obando.  A  sixth  general, 
Vasquez,  was  killed  in  defending  the  battery  (tower) 
in  the  rear  of  the  whole  Mexican  army,  the  capture 
of  which  gave  us  those  glorious  results. 

"  Our  loss,  though  comparatively  small  in  num 
bers,  has  been  serious.  Brigadier-General  Shields, 
a  commander  of  activity,  zeal,  and  talent,  is,  I  fear, 
if  not  dead,  mortally  wounded.  He  is  some  five 
miles  from  me  at  this  moment.  The  field  of  opera 
tions  covered  many  miles,  broken  by  mountains  and 
deep  chasms,  and  I  have  not  a  report,  as  yet,  from 
any  division  or  brigade.  Twiggs's  division,  followed 
by  Shields's  (now  Colonel  Baker's)  brigade,  are  now 
at  or  near  Jalapa,  and  Worth's  division  is  en  route 
thither,  all  pursuing,  writh  good  results,  as  I  learn, 
that  part  of  the  Mexican  army — perhaps  6000  or 
7000  men — who  fled  before  our  right  had  carried  the 
tower  and  gained  the  Jalapa  road.  Pillow's  bri 
gade  alone  is  near  me  at  this  depot  of  wounded, 
sick,  and  prisoners;  and  I  have  time  only  to  give 
from  him  the  names  of  First  Lieutenant  F.  B.  Nelson 
and  Second  Lieutenant  C.  G.  Gill,  both  of  the  2d 
Tennessee  foot,  (Haskell's  regiment,)  among  the 
killed,  and  in  the  brigade  106,  of  all  ranks,  killed 
or  wounded.  Among  the  latter  the  gallant  brigadier- 
general  himself  has  a  smart  wound  in  the  arm,  but 
not  disabled,  and  Major  K.  Farqueson,  2d  Tennessee 
foot,  Captain  H.  F.  Murray,  Second  Lieutenant  G. 
T.  Sutherland,  First  Lieutenant  W.  P.  Hale,  (adju 
tant,)  all  of  the  same  regiment,  severely;  and  First 

24 


370  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

Lieutenant  W.Yearwood,  mortally  wounded.  And 
I  know,  from  personal  observation  on  the  ground, 
that  First  Lieutenant  Ewell,  of  the  Rifles,  if  not  now 
dead,  was  mortally  wounded,  in  entering,  sword  in 
hand,  the  intrenchments  around  the  captured  tower. 
Second  Lieutenant  Derby,  topographical  engineers,  I 
also  saw,  at  the  same  place,  severely  wounded ;  and 
Captain  Patten,  2d  United  States  infantry,  lost  his 
right  hand. 

"  Major  Sumner,  2d  United  States  dragoons,  was 
slightly  wounded  the  day  before,  and  Captain  Johns 
ton,  topographical  engineers, —  now  lieutenant-colo 
nel  of  infantry, — was  severely  wounded  some  days 
earlier,  while  reconnoitring. 

"  I  must  not  omit  to  add  that  Captain  Mason  and 
Second  Lieutenant  Davis,  both  of  the  Rifles,  were 
among  the  very  severely  wounded  in  storming  the 
same  tower.  I  estimate  our  total  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded  may  be  about  250,  and  that  of  the  enemy 
350.  In  the  pursuit  towards  Jalapa  (twenty-five  miles 
hence)  I  learn  we  have  added  much  to  the  enemy's 
loss  in  prisoners,  killed,  and  wounded.  In  fact,  I 
suppose  his  retreating  army  to  be  nearly  disorgan 
ized,  and  hence  my  haste  to  follow  in  an  hour  or 
two  to  profit  by  events. 

"  In  this  hurried  and  imperfect  report  I  must  not 
omit  to  say  that  Brigadier-General  Twiggs,  in  pass 
ing  the  mountain-range  beyond  Cerro  Gordo,  crowned 
with  the  tower,  detached  from  his  division,  as  I  sug 
gested  before,  a  strong  force  to  carry  that  height, 
which  commanded  the  Jalapa  road  at  the  foot,  and 
could  not  fail,  if  carried,  to  cut  off  the  whole  or  any 
part  of  the  enemy's  forces  from  a  retreat  in  any 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  371 

direction  A  portion  of  the  1st  artillery,  under  the 
often-distinguished  Brevet-Colonel  Childs,  the  3d  in 
fantry,  under  Captain  Alexander,  the  7th  infantry, 
under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Plymton,  and  the  Rifles,  un 
der  Major  Loring,  all  under  the  temporary  command 
of  Colonel  Harney,  2d  dragoons,  during  the  confine 
ment  to  his  bed  of  Brevet  Brigadier-General  P.  F. 
Smith,  composed  that  detachment.  The  style  of 
execution,  which  I  had  the  pleasure  to  witness,  was 
most  brilliant  and  decisive.  The  brigade  ascended 
the  long  and  difficult  slope  of  Cerro  Gordo,  without 
shelter  and  under  the  tremendous  fire  of  artillery 
and  musketry,  with  the  utmost  steadiness,  reached 
the  breastworks,  drove  the  enemy  from  them,  planted 
the  colors  of  the  1st  artillery,  3d  arid  7th  infantry, 
—  the  enemy's  flag  still  flying, —  and,  after  some 
minutes  of  sharp  firing,  finished  the  conquest  with 
the  bayonet. 

"It  is  a  most  pleasing  duty  to  say  that  the  highest 
praise  is  due  to  Harney,  Childs,  Plymton,  Loring, 
Alexander,  their  gallant  officers  and  men,  for  this 
brilliant  service,  independent  of  the  great  results 
which  soon  followed. 

"Worth's  division  of  regulars  coming  up  at  this 
time,  he  detached  Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel  C.  F. 
Smith,  with  his  light  battalion,  to  support  the  assault, 
but  not  in  time.  The  general,  reaching  the  tower 
a  few  minutes  before  me,  and  observing  a  white  flag 
displayed  from  the  nearest  portion  of  the  enemy  to 
wards  the  batteries  below,  sent  out  Colonels  Harney 
and  Childs  to  hold  a  parley.  The  surrender  followed 
in  an  hour  or  two. 

"  Major-General  Patterson  left  a  sick  bed  to  share 


372  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

in  the  dangers  and  fatigues  of  the  day,  and,  after  the 
surrender,  went  forward  to  command  the  advanced 
forces  towards  Jalapa. 

"  Brigadier-General  Pillow  and  his  brigade  twice 
assaulted  with  great  daring  the  enemy's  line  of  bat 
teries  on  our  left ;  and,  though  without  success,  they 
contributed  much  to  distract  and  dismay  their  im 
mediate  opponents. 

"President  Santa  Anna,  with  Generals  Canalizo 
and  Almonte,  and  some  6000  or  8000  men,  escaped 
towards  Jalapa  just  before  Cerro  Gordo  was  carried 
and  before  Twiggs's  division  reached  the  National 
Road  above. 

"  I  have  determined  to  parole  the  prisoners, — offi 
cers  and  men, — as  I  have  not  the  means  of  feeding 
them  here  beyond  to-day,  and  cannot  afford  to  detach 
a  heavy  body  of  horse  and  foot,  with  wagons,  to  ac 
company  them  to  Vera  Cruz.  Our  baggage-train, 
though  increasing,  is  not  yet  half  large  enough  to 
give  an  assured  progress  to  this  army.  Besides,  a 
greater  number  of  prisoners  would  probably  escape 
from  the  escort  in  the  long  and  deep  sandy  road, 
without  subsistence, — ten  to  one, — that  we  shall  find 
again,  out  of  the  same  body  of  men,  in  the  ranks  op 
posed  to  us.  Not  one  of  the  Vera  Cruz  prisoners  is 
believed  to  have  been  in  the  lines  of  Cerro  Gordo. 
Some  six  of  the  officers  highest  in  rank  refuse  to 
give  their  paroles,  except  to  go  to  Vera  Cruz,  and 
thence,  perhaps,  to  the  United  States. 

"  The  small  arms  and  their  accoutrements  being 
of  no  value  to  our  army  here  or  at  home,  I  have 
ordered  them  to  be  destroyed ;  for  we  have  not  the 
means  of  transporting  them.  I  am  also  somewhat 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  373 

embarrassed  with  the pieces  of  artillery — all 

bronze  —  which  we  have  captured.  It  will  take  a 
brigade  and  half  the  mules  of  this  army  to  transport 
them  fifty  miles.  A  field-battery  I  shall  take  for 
service  with  the  army;  but  the  heavy  metal  must 
be  collected  and  left  here  for  the  present.  We  have 
our  own  siege-train  and  the  proper  carriages  with  us. 

"Being  much  occupied  with  the  prisoners  and  all 
the  details  of  a  forward  movement,  besides  looking 
to  the  supplies  which  are  to  follow  from  Vera  Cruz, 
I  have  time  to  add  no  more, — intending  to  be  at 
Jalapa  early  to-morrow.  We  shall  not,  probably, 
again  meet  with  serious  opposition  this  side  of  Perote; 
— certainly  not,  unless  delayed  by  the  want  of  means 
of  transportation. 

"  I  invite  attention  to  the  accompanying  letter  to 
President  Santa  Anna,  taken  in  his  carriage  yester 
day;  also  to  his  proclamation,  issued  on  hearing  that 
we  had  captured  Vera  Cruz,  &c.,  in  which  he  says, 
'  If  the  enemy  advance  one  step  more  the  national 
independence  will  be  buried  in  the  abyss  of  the  past/ 
We  have  taken  that  step. 

"One  of  the  principal  motives  for  paroling  the 
prisoners  of  war  is  to  diminish  the  resistances  of 
other  garrisons  in  our  march." 


374 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


BATTLE    OF     OONTRERAS. 


BATTLES   OF   CONTREEAS  AND  CHURU- 
BUSCO. 

AFTER  the  capture  of  Puebla  by  General  Worth, 
(May  15,)  the  army  remained  there  until  the  7th 
of  August,  when  it  commenced  its  march  for  the 
Mexican  capital.  An  excellent  description  of  this 
march  and  of  the  great  battles  consequent  upon  it 
is  given  by  a  participator  : — 

"  We  left  Puebla  on  the  morning  of  the  7th,  and 
entered  upon  a  beautiful  rolling  country  of  great 
fertility,  supplying  with  its  gardens  the  inhabitants 
of  Puebla  with  food,  and  surrounded  by  lofty  moun 
tains,  some  of  which  were  covered  with  snow.  Our 
road  was  gradually  ascending,  and  so  good  that  on 
looking  back  from  the  head  of  the  column  our  train 
could  be  seen  for  miles  in  the  rear,  dotting  with  its 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  375 

snow-white  tops  the  maguey-covered  plain.  On  our 
left  was  Popocatapetl  and  Iscatafetl.  the  snow  on 
their  not-distant  tops  rendering  the  air  quite  chilly. 
General  Scott  did  not  leave  with  us,  but  came  on 
the  next  day  with  Captain  Kearney's  dragoons. 

"  The  second  day's  march  was,  like  the  first, 
gradually  ascending,  passing  through  defiles,  narrow 
passes,  and  over  deep  chasms,  where  a  more  deter 
mined  enemy  might  have  seriously  annoyed  us  by 
merely  making  use  of  the  obstacles  nature  every 
where  presented.  Thick  woods  of  the  finest  forest- 
trees  were  abundant,  and  the  rugged  nature  of  the 
country  would  readily  carry  one  back  to  the  northern 
parts  of  New  England  or  the  passes  of  the  '  Notch.' 
Here  and  there  beautiful  little  lakes  were  inter 
spersed  in  the  deep  valleys,  and  the  clearness  and 
coldness  of  their  waters  were  almost  incredible. 

"  The  third  day  we  were  to  encounter  the  much- 
vaunted  pass  of  Kio  Frio,  and  also  the  passage  of 
the  mountain  which  was  to  lead  us  to  the  El  Dorado 
of  our  hopes, — the  great  plain  of  Mexico.  Our  march 
was  to  be  long  and  difficult,  and  three  o'clock  saw  us 
under  way,  with  heart  and  hopes  full  of  the  prospect 
before  us.  The  dreaded  defile  is  reached  and  passed. 
The  mountains  which  skirt  the  road  on  the  left  here 
close  upon  it  for  about  a  mile,  overhanging  and 
enfilading  it  completely  and  affording  with  their 
crests  most  excellent  coverings  for  an  enemy's 
marksmen.  The  newly-cut  trees  and  long  range  of 
breastworks  thrown  up  on  the  crest  showed  us  that 
preparations  had  been  made;  while  numerous  para 
pets,  with  embrasures  in  the  logs,  taught  us  what 
might  have  been  done.  But  no  men  were  there; 


376  BATTLE-FIELDS      AND 

the  muskets  and  cannon  were  gone.  Valencia,  with 
6000  Mexicans,  was  full  a  day's  march  ahead,  making 
for  Mexico  with  a  speed  which  betrayed  home-sick- 
ress.  Rio  Frio  was  found  to  be  a  little  stream 
pouring  down  from  the  Snow  Mountain,  of  icy  cold 
ness  and  crystal  purity.  After  a  slight  pause  for 
refreshment  we  commenced  our  ascent  of  the  ridge 
which  separates  the  plains  of  Puebla  and  Mexico, 
the  former  of  which  it  had  hitherto  skirted.  For 
several  long  miles  we  toiled  up  the  hill,  only  recom 
pensed  for  our  labor  by  what  we  hoped  to  attain  at 
last.  When  all  were  pretty  nearly  worn  out,  a  sud 
den  turn  in  the  road  brought  to  our  view  a  sight 
which  none  can  ever  forget.  The  whole  vast  plain 
of  Mexico  was  before  us.  The  coldness  of  the  air,- 
which  was  most  sensibly  felt  at  this  great  height, 
our  fatigue  and  danger  were  forgotten,  and  our  eyes 
were  the  only  sense  that  thought  of  enjoyment. 
Mexico,  with  its  lofty  steeples  and  its  checkered 
domes,  its  bright  reality  and  its  former  fame,  its 
modern  splendor  and  its  ancient  magnificence,  was 
before  us;  while  around  on  every  side  its  thousand 
lakes  seemed  like  silver  stars  on  a  velvet  mantle. 

"  We  encamped  that  night  at  the  base  of  the 
mountain,  with  the  enemy's  scouts  on  every  side  of 
us.  The  next  day  we  reached  Ayotla,  only  fifteen 
miles  from  Mexico  by  the  National  Road,  which  we 
had  hitherto  been  following.  Here  we  halted  until 
Generals  Quitman,  Pillow,  and  Worth,  with  their 
divisions,  should  come  up.  We  were  separated  from 
the  city  by  the  marshes  which  surround  Lake 
Tezcuco  and  by  the  lake  itself.  The  road  is  a 
causeway  running  through  the  marsh,  and  is  com- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  377 

manded  by  a  steep  and  lofty  hill  called  El  Pinnol. 
This  hill  completely  enfilades  and  commands  the 
National  Road,  and  had  been  fortified  and  repaired 
with  the  greatest  care  by  Santa  Anna.  One  side 
was  inaccessible  by  nature ;  the  rest  had  been  made 
BO  by  art.  Batteries,  in  all  mounting  fifty  guns  of 
different  calibres,  had  been  placed  on  its  sides,  and  a 
deep  ditch,  twenty-four  feet  wide  and  ten  deep,  filled 
with  water,  had  been  cut,  connecting  the  parts 
already  surrounded  by  marshes.  On  this  side  Santa 
Anna  had  25,000  men  against  our  force  of  a  little 
over  9000  all  told. 

"On  the  22d  we  made  a  reconnoissance  of  the 
work,  which  was  pronounced  impracticable,  as  the 
lives  of  5000  men  would  be  lost  before  the  ditch 
could  be  crossed.  We  continued  our  search,  and 
found  another  road  which  went  round  on  the  left, 
but  when  within  five  miles  of  the  city  were  halted 
by  coming  suddenly  upon  five  strong  batteries  on  the 
hill  which  commanded  this  road,  at  a  place  called 
Mexicalcingo.  We  soon  countermarched,  and  then 
saw  our  danger.  With  one  regiment  and  three  com 
panies  of  cavalry,  in  all  about  400  men,  we  saw  that 
El  Pinnol  lay  directly  between  us  and  our  camp, 
distant  full  fifteen  miles.  Every  eye  was  fixed  on 
the  hill,  with  the  expectation  of  an  approaching 
column  which  should  drive  us  back  into  a  Mexican 
prison,  while  we  stepped  off  with  the  speed  and 
endurance  of  four  hundred  Captain  Barclays !  At 
about  midnight  we  arrived  safely  at  camp,  and  Gene 
ral  Scott  did  us  the  honor  of  calling  it  '  the  boldest 
reconnoissance  of  the  war/  General  Worth  was  en 
camped  about  five  miles  off, — that  is,  in  a  straight 


378  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

line, — across  the  Lake  Chalco,  at  a  place  of  the  same 
name,  but  about  ten  miles  by  the  road.  The  Mexi 
cans  had  a  foundry  in  the  mountains,  at  which  we 
were  getting  some  shells  made,  and  on  returning 
from  which  Lieutenant  Schuyler  Hamilton  was 
badly  wounded. 

"  By  means  of  his  scouts,  General  Worth  had 
found  a  path  round  the  left  of  Lake  Chalco,  which 
led  us  to  the  western  gate  of  the  city,  and  which, 
up  to  that  time,  had  not  been  fortified.  On  the  14th 
the  other  divisions  commenced  their  march,  while  we 
brought  up  the  train  and  the  rear.  In  the  morning 
the  train  was  sent  in  advance,  while  Smith's  brigade 
acted  as  rear-guard.  It  was  composed  of  the  Eifles, 
1st  artillery,  and  the  3d  infantry,  with  Taylor's 
battery.  As  the  rear-guard,  marching  slowly  along, 
reached  with  the  train,  word  came  to  General  Twiggs 
that  a  force  of  about  5000  men  were  trying  to  cross 
the  road  between  them  and  the  train  in  order  to  cut 
it  off.  We  were  then  passing  through  a  small  village 
which,  by  a  curious  coincidence,  was  called  Buena 
Vista.  On  our  left  were  large  fields  of  half-grown 
barley,  through  which  was  seen  advancing,  in  splendid 
order,  the  enemy's  column.  It  was  the  most  splendid 
eight  I  had  ever  seen.  The  yellow  cloaks,  red  caps 
and  jackets  of  the  lancers,  and  the  bright  blue  and 
white  uniforms  of  the  infantry,  were  most  beautifully 
contrasted  with  the  green  of  the  barley  field.  Our 
line  of  battle  was  soon  formed,  and  we  deployed 
through  the  grain  to  turn  their  left  and  cut  them 
off  from  the  mountains.  A  few  shots,  however, 
from  the  battery,  soon  showed  them  that  they  were 
observed ;  and,  countermarching  in  haste,  they  left 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  379 

their  dead  on  the  field.  Thus  ended  our  fight  of 
Buena  Vista.  That  night  we  stayed  at  Chalco.  The 
next  day  we  made  a  long  and  toilsome  march  over  a 
horrible  road,  through  which,  with  the  utmost  diffi 
culty,  we  dragged  our  wagons  by  the  assistance  of 
both  men  and  mules.  The  next  was  nearly  the 
same,  except  that  the  road  was,  if  possible,  worse 
than  before,  as  the  Mexicans  had  blocked  it  up  with 
large  stones  rolled  down  from  the  neighboring  hills. 
This  night  we  encamped  at  a  most  beautiful  olive- 
grove,  of  immense  size  and  accommodating  at  once 
both  divisions.  In  the  town,  as  well  as  in  Chalco, 
there  are  still  standing  the  churches  of  the  Indians 
where  the  fire-worshippers  assembled  before  Cortez 
had  introduced  a  new  religion.  They  are  large  and 
sombre  edifices,  differing  but  little  from  the  churches 
of  this  country,  and,  being  near  the  city,  are  said 
to  have  been  formerly  resorted  to  by  the  ancient 
kings. 

"  The  next  day  we  arrived  in  sight  of  the  rest  of 
the  army  and  heard  the  guns  with  which  Worth 
was  breaching  the  walls  of  San  Antonio.  That 
night  the  news  of  the  death  of  Captain  Thornton, 
of  the  2d  dragoons,  reached  us.  He  was  a  brave 
officer  and  a  thorough  gentleman,  but  was  always 
unfortunate  in  his  military  career. 

"On  the  morning  of  the  19th  we  left  the  little 
village  where  we  had  heard  this  sad  news,  and  took 
the  road  to  San  Juan,  about  seven  miles  to  the  west 
and  only  about  ten  miles  from  the  city.  When  we 
arrived  here  we  heard  the  sound  of  General  Worth's 
guns,  who  was  said  to  have  attacked  San  Augustine, 
a  village  three  miles  nearer  the  capital,  where  Santa 


380  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

Anna  was  said  to  be  with  20,000  men.  "When  we 
arrived  at  San  Juan  the  men  were  told  to  sling 
their  blankets  across  their  shoulders,  put  their  knap 
sacks  into  their  wagons,  and  to  put  two  days'  bread 
and  beef  in  their  haversacks.  When  this  order 
came  all  knew  that  the  time  had  come.  The 
officers  arranged  their  effects,  put  on  their  old  coats, 
and  filled  their  haversacks  and  flasks.  Soon  we 
were  ready  for  any  thing  but  a  thrashing.  We  here 
heard  the  position  of  the  enemy,  which  was  nearly 
as  follows : — Santa  Anna,  with  20,000  men,  was  at 
San  Augustine ;  Valencia,  with  10,000.  was  at  a  hill 
called  Contreras,  which  commanded  another  road 
parallel  to  the  San  Augustine  road,  but  which  led 
into  it  between  the  city  and  Santa  Anna.  Now,  by 
cutting  a  road  across,  if  we  could  whip  Valencia,  we 
could  follow  the  road  up  and  thus  get  in  between 
Santa  Anna  and  Mexico  and  whip  him  too.  General 
Worth  (supported  by  General  Quitman)  was  to  keep 
Santa  Anna  in  check,  while  Twiggs  (backed  by  Pil 
low)  was  to  try  and  astonish  Valencia,  which  you 
will  see  he  did  very  effectually.  Pillow,  with  some 
of  the  ten  regiments,  was  to  cut  the  road. 

"We  left  San  Juan  about  one  o'clock,  not  par 
ticularly  desiring  a  fight  so  late  in  the  day,  but  still 
not  shunning  it  in  case  we  could  have  a  respectable 
chance.  About  two.  P.M.,  as  we  had  crawled  to  the 
top  of  a  hill,  whither  we  had  been  ourselves  pulling 
Magruder's  battery  and  the  mountain-howitzers,  we 
suddenly  espied  Valencia  fortified  on  a  hill  about 
twelve  hundred  yards  off  and  strongly  reinforced  by 
a  column  which  had  just  come  out  of  the  city.  We 
lay  down  close  to  avoid  drawing  their  fire,  while 


NATAL     EXPLOITS.  381 

the  battery  moved  past  at  a  full  gallop.  Just  then 
General  Smith's  manly  voice  rung  out,  '  Forward  the 
Rifles,  to  support  the  battery!'  On  they  went  till 
they  got  about  eight  hundred  yards  from  the  work, 
when  the  enemy  opened  upon  them  with  his  long 
guns,  which  were  afterwards  found  to  be  sixteen  and 
eight-inch  howitzers.  The  ground  was  the  worst 
possible  for  artillery,  covered  with  rocks  large  and 
small,  prickly  pear  and  cactus,  intersected  by  ditches 
filled  with  water  and  lined  with  maguey-plant,  itself 
imperviable  to  cavalry,  and  with  patches  of  corn 
which  concealed  the  enemy's  skirmishers  while  it 
impeded  our  own  passage.  The  artillery  advanced 
but  slowly,  under  a  most  tremendous  fire,  which 
greatly  injured  it  before  it  could  be  got  in  range,  and 
the  thickness  of  the  undergrowth  caused  the  skir 
mishers  thrown  forward  to  lose  their  relative  posi 
tion  as  well  as  the  column.  About  four  the  battery 
got  in  position,  under  a  most  murderous  fire  of  grape, 
canister,  and  round-shot.  Here  the  superiority  of 
the  enemy's  pieces  rendered  our  fire  nugatory.  We 
could  get  but  three  pieces  in  battery,  while  they  had 
twenty-seven,  all  of  them  three  times  the  calibre  of 
ours.  For  two  hours  our  troops  stood  the  storm  of 
iron  and  lead  they  hailed  upon  them  unmoved.  At 
every  discharge  they  lay  flat  down  to  avoid  the 
storm,  and  then  sprung  up  to  serve  the  guns.  At 
the  end  of  that  time  two  of  the  guns  were  dis 
mounted  and  we  badly  hurt :  thirteen  of  the  horses 
were  killed  and  disabled  and  fifteen  of  the  cannoneers 
killed  and  wounded.  The  regiment  was  then  re 
called.  The  lancers  had  been  repelled  in  three  suc 
cessive  charges.  The  3d  infantry  and  1st  artillery 


382  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

had  also  engaged  and  successfully  repelled  the 
enemy's  skirmishers  without  losing  either  officers  or 
men.  The  greatest  loss  had  been  at  the  batteries. 
Officers  looked  gloomy  for  the  first  day's  fight ;  but 
the  brigade  was  formed,  and  General  Smith  in  person 
took  command.  All  felt  revived,  and  followed  him 
with  a  yell,  as,  creeping  low  to  avoid  the  grape, 
(which  was  coming  very  fast,)  we  made  a  circuit  in 
Tear  of  the  batteries ;  and,  passing  off  to  the  right, 
we  were  soon  lost  to  view  in  the  chapparal  and 
cactus. 

"Passing  over  the  path  that  we  scrambled 
through,  behold  us  at  almost  six  o'clock  in  the 
evening,  tired,  hungry,  and  sorrowful,  emerging 
from  the  chapparal  and  crossing  the  road  between  it 
and  Valencia.  Here  we  found  Cadwalader  and  his 
brigade  already  formed,  and  discovered  Riley's 
brigade  skirmishing  in  rear  of  the  enemy's  works. 
Valencia  was  ignorant  of  our  approach,  and  we  were 
as  yet  safe.  In  front  of  us  was  Valencia,  strongly 
intrenched  on  a  hill-side  and  surrounded  by  a  regu 
lar  field-work,  concealed  from  us  by  an  orchard  in 
our  rear.  Mendoza,  with  a  column  of  6000,  was  in 
the  road,  but  thinking  us  to  be  friends.  On  our 
right  was  a  large  range  of  hills  whose  continued 
crest  was  parallel  to  the  road  and  in  which  were 
formed  in  line  of  battle  5000  of  the  best  Mexican 
cavalry.  On  our  left  we  were  separated  from  our 
own  forces  by  an  almost  impassable  wilderness,  and 
it  was  now  twilight.  Even  Smith  looked  round  for 
help.  Suddenly  a  thousand  vivas  came  across  the 
hill-side,  like  the  yells  of  prairie-wolves  in  the  dead 
of  night,  and  the  squadrons  on  our  right  formed  for 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  383 

charging.  Smith  is  himself  again  !  '  Face  to  the 
rear  !'  '  Wait  till  you  see  their  red  caps,  and  then 
give  it  to  them  !'  Furiously  they  came  on  a  few 
yards,  then  changed  their  minds,  and,  disgusted  at 
oui  cool  reception,  retired  to  their  couches. 

"  On  the  edge  of  the  road,  between  us  and  Va 
lencia,  a  Mexican  hamlet  spread  out,  with  its  mud 
huts,  large  orchards,  deep-cut  roads,  and  a  strong 
church ;  and  through  the  centre  of  this  hamlet  ran 
a  path  parallel  to  the  main  road  but  concealed  from 
it :  it  is  nearly  a  mile  long.  In  this  road  Smith's 
and  Riley's  brigade  bivouacked.  Shields,  who  came 
up  in  the  night,  lay  in  the  orchard,  while  Cadwalader 
was  nearest  the  enemy's  works.  As  we  were  within 
range  of  their  batteries,  which  could  enfilade  the 
road  in  which  we  lay,  we  built  a  stone  breastwork 
at  either  end  to  conceal  ourselves  from  their  view 
and  grape.  There  we  were,  completely  surrounded 
by  the  enemy,  cut  off  from  our  communications, 
ignorant  of  the  ground,  without  artillery,  weary, 
dispirited,  and  dejected.  We  were  a  disheartened 
set.  With  Santa  Anna  and  Salas's  promise  of  '  no 
quarter/  a  force  of  four  to  one  against  us,  and  one- 
half  defeated  already,  no  succor  from  Puebla  and 
no  news  from  General  Scott,  all  seemed  dark.  Sud 
denly  the  words  came  whispered  along,  '  We  storm 
at  midnight.'  Now  we  are  ourselves  again !  But 
what  a  horrible  night !  There  we  lay,  too  tired  to 
eat,  too  wet  to  sleep,  in  the  middle  of  that  muddy 
road,  officers  and  men  side  by  side,  with  a  heavy 
rain  pouring  down  upon  us,  the  officers  without 
blankets  or  overcoats  (they  had  lost  them  in  coining 
across)  and  the  men  worn  out  with  fatigue.  About 


384  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

midnight  the  rain  was  so  heavy  that  the  streams  in 
the  road  flooded  us,  and  there  we  stood  crowded  to 
gether,  drenched  and  benumbed,  waiting  till  daylight. 
"At  half-past  three  the  welcome  word  '  fall  in'  was 
passed  down,  and  we  commenced  our  march.  The 
enemy's  works  were  on  a  hill-side,  behind  which  rose 
other  and  slightly-higher  hills,  separated  by  deep 
ravines  and  gullies  and  intersected  by  streams.  The 
whole  face  of  the  country  was  of  stiff  clay,  which 
rendered  it  almost  impossible  to  advance.  We 
formed  our  line  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the 
enemy's  works,  Riley's  brigade  on  our  right.  At 
about  four  we  started,  winding  through  a  thick 
orchard  which  effectually  concealed  us,  even  had  it 
not  been  dark,  debouching  into  a  deep  ravine  which 
ran  within  about  five  hundred  yards  of  the  work 
and  which  carried  us  directly  in  rear  and  out  of 
sight  of  their  batteries.  At  dawn  of  day  we  reached 
our  place,  after  incredible  exertions,  and  got  ready  for 
our  charge.  The  men  threw  off  their  wet  blankets 
and  looked  to  their  pieces,  while  the  officers  got 
ready  for  a  rush,  and  the  first  smile  that  lit  up  our 
faces  for  twelve  hours  boded  but  little  good  for  the 
Mexicans.  On  the  right,  and  opposite  the  right  of 
their  work,  was  Riley's  brigade  of  the  2d  and  1st 
infantry  and  4th  artillery,  next  the  Rifles,  then  the 
1st  artillery  and  3d  infantry.  In  the  rear  of  our  left 
was  Cadwalader's  brigade,  as  a  support,  with  Shields's 
brigade  in  rear  as  a  reserve, — the  whole  division  un 
der  command  of  General  Smith,  in  the  absence  of 
General  Tvviggs.  They  had  a  smooth  place  to  rush 
down  on  the  enemy's  work,  with  the  brow  of  the 
hill  to  keep  under  until  the  word  was  given. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  385 

"At  last,  just  at  daylight,  General  Smith,  slowly 
walking  up,  asked  if  all  was  ready.  A  look  an 
swered  him.  'Men,  forward!'  And  we  did  ' for 
ward/  Springing  up  at  once,  Riley's  brigade  opened, 
when  the  crack  of  a  hundred  rifles  startled  the  Mexi 
cans  from  their  astonishment,  and  they  opened  their 
fire.  Useless  fire !  for  we  were  so  close  that  they 
overshot  us,  and,  before  they  could  turn  their  pieces 
on  us,  we  were  on  them.  Then  such  cheers  arose  as 
you  never  heard.  The  men  rushed  forward  like  de 
mons,  yelling  and  firing  the  while.  The  carnage  was 
frightful,  and,  though  they  fired  sharply,  it  was  of 
no  use.  The  earthen  parapet  was  cleared  in  an  in 
stant,  and  the  blows  of  the  stocks  could  be  plainly 
heard  mingled  with  the  yells  and  groans  around. 
Just  before  the  charge  was  made,  a  large  body  of 
lancers  came  winding  up  the  road,  looking  most 
splendidly  in  their  brilliant  uniforms.  They  never 
got  to  the  work,  but  turned  and  fled.  In  an  instant 
all  was  one  mass  of  confusion,  each  trying  to  be  fore 
most  in  the  flight.  The  road  was  literally  blocked 
up ;  and,  while  many  perished  by  their  own  guns,  it 
was  almost  impossible  to  fire  on  the  mass,  from  the 
danger  of  killing  our  own  men.  Some  fled  up  the 
ravine  on  the  left  or  on  the  right,  and  many  of  these 
were  slain  by  turning  their  own  guns  on  them.  To 
wards  the  city  the  Rifles  and  2d  infantry  led  off  the 
pursuit.  Seeing  that  a  large  crowd  of  the  fugitives 
were  jammed  up  in  a  pass  in  the  road,  some  of  our 
men  ran  through  the  cornfield,  and,  by  thus  head 
ing  them  off  and  firing  down  upon  them,  about  30 
men  took  over  500  prisoners,  nearly  100  of  them 
officers.  After  disarming  the  prisoners,  as  the  pur- 

25 


386  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

suit  had  ceased,  we  went  back  to  the  fort,  where 
we  found  our  troops  in  full  possession  aud  the  rout 
complete. 

"  We  found  that  the  enemy's  position  was  much 
stronger  than  we  had  supposed  and  their  artillery 
much  larger  and  more  abundant.  Our  own  loss  was 
small,  which  may  be  accounted  for  by  their  perfect 
surprise  at  our  charge,  as  to  them  we  appeared  as 
if  rising  out  of  the  earth,  so  unperceived  was  our  ap 
proach.  Our  loss  was  one  officer  killed, — Captain 
Hanson,  of  the  7th  infantry, — Lieutenant  Van  Bu- 
ren,  of  the  Kifles,  shot  through  the  leg,  and  about  50 
men  killed  and  wounded.  Their  force  consisted  of 
8000  men,  under  Valencia,  with  a  reserve,  which 
had  not  yet  arrived,  under  Santa  Anna.  Their  loss, 
as  since  ascertained,  was  as  follows : — Killed  and 
buried  since  the  fight,  750 ;  wounded,  1000 ;  and 
1500  prisoners,  exclusive  of  officers,  including  four 
generals, — Salas,  Mendoza,  Garcia,  and  Guadalupe, 
— in  addition  to  dozens  of  colonels,  majors,  captains, 
&c.  We  captured  in  all  on  the  hill  twenty-two 
pieces  of  cannon,  including  five  eight-inch  howitzers, 
two  long  eighteens,  three  long  sixteens,  and  several 
of  twelve  and  eight  inches,  and  also  the  two  identical 
six-pounders  captured  by  the  Mexicans  at  Buena 
Vista,  taken  from  Captain  Washington's  battery  of 
the  4th  artillery.  The  first  officer  who  saw  them 
happened  to  be  the  officer  of  the  4th  selected  by 
General  Scott  to  command  the  new  battery  of  that 
regiment, — Captain  Drum.  In  addition  were  taken 
immense  quantities  of  ammunition  and  muskets;  in 
fact,  the  way  was  strewed  with  muskets,  cscopets, 
lances,  and  flags,  for  miles.  Large  quantities  of 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  387 

horses  and  mules  were  also  captured,  though  large 
numbers  were  killed. 

"  Thus  ended  the  glorious  battle  of  Contreras,  in 
which  2000  men,  under  General  P.  F.  Smith,  com 
pletely  routed  and  destroyed  an  army  of  8000  men, 
under  General  Valencia,  with  Santa  Anna  and  a  force 
of  20,000  men  within  five  miles.  Their  army  was  so 
completely  routed  that  not  1500  men  rejoined  Santa 
Anna  and  participated  in  the  second  battle.  Most 
people  would  have  thought  that  a  pretty  good  day's 
work.  Not  so.  We  had  only  saved  ourselves,  not 
conquered  Mexico;  and  men's  work  was  before  us 
yet. 

"At  eight  o'clock  A.M.  we  formed  again,  and, 
General  Twiggs  having  taken  command,  we  started 
on  the  road  to  Mexico.  We  had  hardly  marched  a 
mile  before  we  were  sharply  fired  upon  from  both 
sides  of  the  road,  and  our  right  was  deployed  to 
drive  the  enemy  in.  We  soon  found  that  we  had 
caught  up  with  the  retreating  party,  from  the  very 
brisk  firing  in  front,  and  we  drove  them  through  the 
little  town  of  San  Angelo,  where  they  had  been  halt 
ing  in  force.  About  half  a  mile  from  this  town  we 
entered  the  suburbs  of  another  called  San  Katherina, 
when  a  large  party  in  the  churchyard  fired  on  the 
head  of  the  column  and  the  balls  came  right  among 
us.  Our  men  kept  rushing  on  their  rear  and  cutting 
them  down,  until  a  discharge  of  grape-shot  from  a 
large  piece  in  front  drove  them  back  to  the  column. 
In  this  short  space  of  time  five  men  were  killed,  ten 
taken  prisoners,  and  a  small  color  captured,  which 
was  carried  the  rest  of  the  day. 

"Meanwhile  General  Worth  had  made  a  demon- 


388  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

stration  on  San  Antonio,  where  the  enemy  was  forti 
fied  in  a  strong  hacienda;  but  they  retired  on  his 
approach  to  Churubusco,  where  the  works  were 
deemed  impregnable.  They  consisted  of  a  fortified 
hacienda,  which  was  surrounded  by  a  high  and 
thick  wall  on  all  sides.  Inside  the  wall  was  a  stone 
building,  the  roof  of  which  was  flat  and  higher  than 
the  walls.  Above  all  this  was  a  stone  church,  still 
higher  than  the  rest,  and  having  a  large  steeple. 
The  wall  was  pierced  with  loopholes  and  so  arranged 
that  there  were  two  tiers  of  men  firing  at  the  same 
time.  They  thus  had  four  different  ranges  of  men 
firing  at  once,  and  four  ranks  were  formed  on  each 
range,  and  placed  at  such  a  height  that  they  could 
not  only  overlook  all  the  surrounding  country,  but 
at  the  same  time  they  had  a  plunging  fire  upon  us. 
Outside  the  hacienda,  and  completely  commanding 
the  avenues  of  approach,  was  a  field-work  extending 
around  two  sides  of  the  fort,  and  protected  by  a  deep 
wet  ditch  and  armed  with  seven  large  pieces.  This 
hacienda  is  at  the  commencement  of  the  causeway 
leading  to  the  western  gate  of  the  city,  and  had  to 
be  passed  before  getting  on  the  road.  About  three 
hundred  yards  in  rear  of  this  work  another  field- 
work  had  been  built  where  a  cross-road  meets  the 
causeway,  at  a  point  where  it  crosses  a  river,  thus 
forming  a  bridge-head,  or  tete  de  pont.  This  was 
also  very  strong  and  armed  with  three  large  pieces 
of  cannon.  The  works  were  surrounded  on  every 
side  by  large  cornfields,  which  were  filled  with  the 
enemy's  skirmishers,  so  that  it  was  difficult  to  make 
a  reconnoissance.  It  was  therefore  decided  to  make 
the  attack  immediately,  as  they  were  full  of  men  and 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  389 

extended  for  nearly  a  mile  on  the  road  to  the  city, 
completely  covering  the  causeway.  The  attack  com 
menced  about  one  P.M.  General  Twiggs's  division 
attacked  on  the  side  towards  which  they  approached 
the  fort, — that  is,  opposite  the  city.  General  Worth's 
attacked  the  bridge-head,  which  he  took  in  about  an 
hour  and  a  half,' — while  Generals  Pillow  and  Quit- 
man  were  on  the  extreme  left,  between  the  cause 
way  and  Twiggs's  division.  The  Rifles  were  on  the 
left  and  in  rear  of  the  work,  intrusted  by  General 
Scott  with  the  task  of  charging  it  in  case  General 
Pierce  gave  way.  The  firing  was  most  tremendous, 
— in  fact,  one  continued  roll  while  the  combat  lasted. 
The  enemy,  from  their  elevated  station,  could  readily 
see  our  men,  who  were  unable  to  get  a  clear  view 
from  their  position.  Three  of  the  pieces  were 
manned  by  '  The  Deserters,' — a  body  of  about  100, 
who  had  deserted  from  the  ranks  of  our  army  during 
the  war.  They  were  enrolled  in  two  companies, 
commanded  by  a  deserter,  and  were  better  uni 
formed  and  disciplined  than  the  rest  of  the  army. 
These  men  fought  most  desperately,  and  are  said 
not  only  to  have  shot  down  several  of  our  officers 
whom  they  knew,  but  to  have  pulled  down  the  white 
flag  of  surrender  no  less  than  three  times. 

"  The  battle  raged  most  furiously  for  about  three 
hours,  when,  both  sides  having  lost  a  great  many, 
the  enemy  began  to  give  way.  As  soon  as  they 
commenced  retreating,  Kearney's  squadron  passed 
through  the  tete  de  pant,  and,  charging  through  the 
retreating  column,  pursued  them  to  the  very  gate 
of  the  city.  When  our  men  got  within  about  five 
hundred  yards  of  the  gate  they  were  opened  upon 


390  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

with  grape  and  canister  and  several  officers  wounded. 
Among  the  number  was  Captain  Kearney,  1st  dra 
goons,  who  lost  his  left  arm  above  the  elbow.  Lieu 
tenant  Graham,  of  New  York,  received  a  sevare 
flesh-wound  in  his  left  arm;  Captain  McReynolds, 
ditto.  Our  loss  in  this  second  battle  was  large. 
We  lost  in  killed  seven  officers  : — Captains  Capron, 
Burke,  1st  artillery;  Lieutenants  Irons,  Johnston, 
Hoffman,  Captain  Anderson,  Lieutenant  Easely,  2d 
infantry;  Captain  Hanson,  7th  infantry.  Lieute 
nant  Irons  died  on  the  28th.  Colonel  Butler,  of 
South  Carolina,  and  about  30  officers  wounded,  ex 
clusive  of  the  volunteers.  The  official  returns  give 
our  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  at  1150,  besides  offi 
cers.  The  Mexican  loss  is  500  killed  in  the  second 
battle,  1000  wounded,  and  1100  prisoners,  exclusive 
of  officers.  Three  more  generals  were  taken, — 
among  them  General  Rincon  and  Anaya,  the  pro 
visional  President; — also,  ten  pieces  of  cannon  and 
an  immense  amount  of  ammunition  and  stores. 
Santa  Anna,  in  his  report,  states  his  loss  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing,  at  12,000.  He  has  only 
18,000  left  out  of  30,000,  which  he  gives  as  his  force 
on  the  20th  in  both  actions. 

"  Thus  ended  the  battle  of  Churubusco,  one  of  the 
most  furious  and  deadly,  for  its  length,  of  any  of  the 
war.  For  reasons  which  he  deemed  conclusive, 
General  Scott  did  not  enter  the  city  that  night,  but 
encamped  on  the  battle-field,  about  four  miles  from 
the  western  gate  of  the  city.  The  next  day  a  flag 
of  truce  came  out,  and  propositions  were  made  which 
resulted  in  an  armistice." 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS 


391 


MOLINO    DEL    RET. 


STORMING   OF   MOLINO  DEL   KEY. 

ON  the  5th  of  September,  1847,  one  day  previous 
to  the  termination  of  the  armistice,  the  American 
general  learned  that  many  church-bells  had  been 
sent  from  the  city  to  a  foundry  called  Casa  Mata,  to 
be  cast  into  guns,  and  that  immense  quantities  of 
powder,  balls,  and  other  military  stores,  were  arriving 
at  the  same  place.  As  soon  as  the  truce  terminated, 
General  Scott  determined  on  an  immediate  attack 
upon  this  place,  hoping  to  deprive  the  enemy  of 
their  cannon  and  ammunition,  both  of  which  were 
at  this  time  of  the  greatest  importance  to  them. 
This  determination  was  further  strengthened  by  the 


392  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

consideration  that  recent  events  had  deprived  the 
enemy  of  more  than  three-fourths  of  the  guns  neces 
sary  to  defend  the  strong  works  at  the  eight  prin 
cipal  gates  of  the  city,  which  rendered  a  free  com 
munication  with  the  cannon-foundry  highly  essential 
to  Santa  Anna's  operations.  This  communication 
could  be  cut  off  only  by  taking  the  formidable  castle 
upon  the  Heights  of  Chapultepec,  situated  between 
the  city  and  Casa  Mata  and  overlooking  both. 
For  this  dangerous  operation  the  army  was  not  al 
together  ready ;  and  the  earnest  desire  of  General 
Scott  was  to  avoid  altogether,  if  possible,  an  attack 
upon  this  place,  and  approach  the  city  by  the  dis 
tant  southern  approaches,  should  they  be  found  less 
formidable.  Preparatory  to  attempting  this  he  de 
termined  upon  destroying  the  foundry  and  stores  at 
Molino  del  Key.  The  execution  of  this  plan  was 
intrusted  to  Brevet  Major-General  Worth. 

On  the  morning  of  the  7th,  Captain  Mason,  of  the 
engineers,  made  a  close  and  daring  reconnoissance 
of  the  lines  collateral  to  Chapultepec,  ascertaining 
the  enemy's  position  to  be  as  follows:  —  the  left 
resting  upon  and  occupying  the  strong  stone  build 
ings  of  Molino  del  Rey,  near  a  grove  at  the  foot  of 
Chapultepec  Hill  and  directly  under  the  guns  of  its 
castle;  the  right  resting  upon  Casa  Mata,  at  the 
base  of  a  ridge  sloping  gradually  from  the  heights 
above  the  village  of  Tacubaya  to  the  plain  below. 
Midway  between  these  buildings  was  the  enemy's 
field-battery,  supported  on  both  sides  by  infantry. 

This  reconnoissance  was  repeated  and  verified  by 
Captain  Mason  and  Colonel  Duncan  on  the  after 
noon  of  the  same  day, — the  result  indicating  that  the 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  393 

centre  was  the  enemy's  weak  point,  and  that  of  his 
flanks  the  left,  bordering  on  Molino  del  Key,  was 
the  stronger.  Generals  Scott  and  Worth  accom 
panied  the  engineers  during  the  afternoon.  The 
examination,  however,  was  far  from  being  satisfac 
tory,  since,  although  it  afforded  a  fair  observation 
of  the  configuration  of  the  ground  and  the  extent 
of  the  enemy's  forces,  yet,  on  account  of  the  de 
fences  being  skilfully  masked,  only  an  imperfect 
idea  was  obtained  of  their  actual  strength. 

On  the  same  afternoon  a  large  body  of  the  enemy 
was  seen  hovering  about  Molino  del  Rey,  within  a 
mile  and  a  third  of  Tacubaya,  where  General  Scott 
was  stationed  with  his  staff  and  Worth's  division. 
They  did  not  venture  an  attack,  and  the  American 
commander  would  not  derange  his  plans  by  offering 
battle. 

General  Worth's  division  was  reinforced  by  270 
dragoons  and  mounted  riflemen,  under  Major  Sum- 
ner,  Cadwalader's  infantry  and  voltigeur  regiments, 
784  strong,  three  pieces  of  field-artillery,  under 
Captain  Drum,  and  two  twenty-four-pound  batter 
ing-guns,  under  Captain  Huger.  The  whole  com 
mand,  thus  reinforced,  numbered  3200  men. 

The  orders  of  General  Scott  were  that  the  division 
should  attack  and  destroy  the  lines  and  defences 
between  the  Casa  Mata  and  Molino  del  Rey,  cap 
ture  the  enemy's  artillery,  destroy  the  machinery 
and  material  supposed  to  be  in  the  foundry,  but 
under  no  circumstances  to  make  an  attack  upon 
Chapultepec.  After  carrying  the  works  the  troops 
were  to  be  withdrawn  immediately  to  Tacubaya. 
The  object  of  attack  being  connected  with  Cha- 


394  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

pultepec,  it  became  necessary  to  isolate  it  from  the 
defences  of  the  castle.  To  effect  this  object,  Colonel 
Garland's  brigade,  strengthened  by  two  pieces  of 
Captain  Drum's  battery,  was  posted  on  the  right  so 
as  to  intercept  any  reinforcements  from  Chapultepec 
and  be  within  sustaining-distance  of  the  assaulting 
party  and  Huger's  battering-guns.  The  latter  were 
placed  on  the  ridge,  five  or  six  hundred  yards  from 
Molino  del  Key,  so  as  to  play  upon  and  detach  it 
from  Chapultepec.  The  assaulting  party  designed 
to  act  against  the  enemy's  centre,  consisting  of  500 
picked  men  and  officers,  commanded  by  Brevet 
Major  Wright,  was  stationed  on  the  ridge  to  the 
left  of  the  battering-guns.  Colonel  Clarke's  brigade, 
under  Colonel  Mclntosh,  was  placed  farther  up  the 
ridge,  near  Duncan's  battery,  so  as  either  to  protect 
the  American  left  flank,  to  sustain  the  assaulting 
column,  or  to  discomfit  the  enemy,  as  circumstances 
would  require.  Cadwalader's  brigade  was  held  in 
reserve,  in  a  position  on  the  ridge  between  the  bat 
tering-guns  and  Macintosh's  brigade,  at  easy  support 
ing-distance  from  both.  Major  Sumner,  with  his 
cavalry,  was  ordered  to  the  extreme  flank,  to  act  as 
his  own  judgment  might  dictate;  and  the  general 
disposition  of  the  artillery  was  confined  to  Colonel 
Duncan. 

These  preparations  were  designed  and  executed 
in  the  most  desirable  manner,  exhibiting,  in  the 
subsequent  result,  the  military  abilities  of  the  general 
who  planned  the  whole  attack  and  of  those  who 
carried  it  into  effect.  The  artillery  was  placed  in 
the  best  possible  position  for  preventing  the  arrival 
of  any  support  from  the  castle,  by  breaking  the  con- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  395 

tinuous  line  of  defences  leading  to  that  place  and 
distracting  the  garrison  curing  the  charge  of  Wright's 
party.  This  was  posted  so  as  to  experience  the  least 
difficulty  from  the  nature  of  the  ground  and  the 
presence  of  the  enemy's  cavalry.  The  latter  were 
watched  by  the  intrepid  Sumner,  and  at  a  well- 
chosen  position  Mclntosh's  troops  were  placed  in 
general  superintendence  of  the  whole.  But  so 
strong  were  the  Mexican  defences,  and  throughout 
the  whole  line  so  skilfully  masked,  that,  but  for  a 
strong  supporting  reserve,  Wright's  charge — the  soul 
of  the  entire  assault — would  probably  have  failed. 
Such  support  was  afforded  by  Cadwalader's  brigade, 
which  during  the  action  was  called  into  active 
service  and  contributed  in  no  slight  degree  to 
victory. 

At  three  o'clock  A.M.  of  the  8th  the  division 
commenced  its  march  by  columns,  each  taking  a  dif 
ferent  route.  So  accurately  had  every  thing  been 
arranged  that,  notwithstanding  the  darkness  of  the 
night  and  the  irregularity  of  the  ground,  the  troops 
at  daylight  were  found  posted  in  the  different  posi 
tions  with  as  much  precision  as  though  on  parade. 
Very  soon  after  the  dawn  of  day  the  report  of 
Huger's  guns,  opening  upon  Molino  del  Rey,  gave 
the  signal  for  attack.  So  heavy  were  the  discharges 
that  in  a  short  time  masses  of  masonry  fell  with 
tremendous  noise  and  the  whole  line  of  intrench- 
ments  began  to  shake.  This,  uniting  with  the  roar 
of  cannon  and  cheering  of  soldiers,  produced  a  scene 
of  confusion  peculiarly  distressing.  The  enemy  an 
swered  each  discharge  in  rapid  succession,  unfolding 
at  intervals  to  the  sight  of  their  antagonists  bat- 


396  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

teries  and  systems  of  defence  of  the  strongest  cha 
racter,  but  hitherto  masked. 

In  the  interim,  while  the  cannonade  was  going  on, 
Major  Wright  was  preparing  his  troops  for  the  attack. 
Stationed  on  an  eminence,  he  had  a  full  view  of  the 
artillery  operations,  and  could  determine  with  great 
ease  upon  the  exact  direction  in  which  to  lead  his 
men.  All  things  heing  in  readiness,  he  dashed  down 
the  slope,  guided  by  Captain  Mason  and  Lieutenant 
Foster  and  followed  by  his  whole  command.  At 
this  stirring  spectacle  the  remainder  of  the  division 
sent  up  a  shout  which  momentarily  drowned  the 
roar  of  artillery;  while  at  the  same  moment,  as 
though  in  desperate  defiance,  the  central  batteries 
of  the  enemy  opened  their  fearful  discharges,  sweep 
ing  down  man  and  officer  in  terrible  and  indiscri 
minate  slaughter.  The  cheering  died  away  at  such 
a  spectacle,  and,  with  unuttered  forebodings  at  the 
unexpected  sight,  the  reserve  and  support  leaned 
forward  to  await  the  result.  Yet,  in  the  midst  of 
the  unexpected  showers  of  fire  which  were  launched 
upon  them,  Wright  and  his  gallant  men  rushed  on, 
gained  the  lines,  and,  sweeping  through  a  storm  of 
musketry  and  canister-shot,  drove  infantry  and 
artillerymen  before  them  at  the  bayonet's  point, 
seized  the  large  field-battery,  drove  off  the  can 
noneers,  and  trailed  its  guns  upon  the  retreating 
masses. 

But  the  battle  was  not  yet  decided.  After  retreat 
ing  to  a  short  distance  the  enemy  suddenly  halted, 
rallied,  and,  on  observing  the  smallness  of  the  force 
by  which  they  had  been  attacked,  returned  with 
renewed  energy  to  the  conflict.  Suddenly  a  flash 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  397 

like  lightning  ran  along  their  whole  line,  pouring 
forth  a  discharge  which  struck  down  11  officers  out 
of  the  14  composing  the  command,  with  non-com 
missioned  officers  and  men  in  proportion.  Brevet 
Major  Wright,  Captain  Mason,  and  Lieutenant 
Foster,  were  among  the  severely  wounded.  At  the 
same  time  the  windows  and  roofs  of  buildings  were 
lined  with  infantry,  who  united  their  fire  with  that 
of  the  main  body.  At  so  overwhelming  a  loss  the 
party  was  thrown  into  confusion,  and  the  eagle  eye 
of  General  Worth  foresaw  that  another  such  dis 
charge  would  snatch  victory  from  its  grasp.  Ac 
cordingly  the  right  wing  of  Cadwalader's  brigade 
and  the  light  battalion  held  to  cover  Captain  Huger's 
battery  were  immediately  ordered  forward  to  its 
support.  Coming  rapidly  into  action,  these  troops 
reached  the  shattered  remnant  of  Major  Wright's 
party  at  a  most  seasonable  moment.  The  struggle 
with  the  enemy  was  close  but  short.  They  were 
again  routed  and  their  central  positions  fully  carried 
and  occupied. 

This  victory  gave  the  Americans  an  important 
station  inside  the  enemy's  works,  and  separated  the 
Casa  Mata  from  Molino  del  Key  and  its  adjoining 
fortification^.  These,  therefore,  formed  two  isolated 
points  of  attack,  each  of  which  could  be  attacked 
by  a  separate  party  without  danger  from  the  other. 

The  assault  upon  the  enemy's  left  was  intrusted 
to  Garland's  brigade,  sustained  by  Drum's  artillery. 
Here  the  struggle  was  obstinate  and  bloody.  The 
manner  in  which  the  American  guns  were  served 
drew  forth  shouts  of  applause  from  the  whole  army; 
while,  on  the  other  hand,  the  powerful  batteries  of 


398  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

Molino  del  Key  were  worked  in  a  manner  which 
evinced  the  determination  of  the  enemy  to  regain 
the  day.  The  loss  of  the  assailants  was  heavy;  but 
they  at  length  succeeded  in  forcing  the  position  and 
driving  the  garrison  from  their  guns.  The  Mexicans 
fled  towards  Chapultepec,  suffering  heavily  from 
their  own  guns,  which  were  turned  upon  them  and 
continued  to  fire  until  they  were  beyond  reach. 

Simultaneously  with  this  assault,  Duncan's  bat 
tery  opened  upon  the  Mexican  right,  so  as  to  mask 
an  assault  upon  it  by  Colonel  Mclntosh.  The  whole 
field  was  now  a  scene  of  uproar,  the  battle  raging, 
mostly  of  artillery,  throughout  the  entire  line  of  de 
fences  from  Casa  Mata  to  Molino  del  Rey.  As 
Mclntosh's  troops  moved  to  the  attack  they  came 
in  front  of  Duncan's  battery,  which  was  consequently 
obliged  to  suspend  its  fire.  The  command  then 
moved  steadily  to  the  assault.  On  approaching  the 
Casa  Mata  it  was  discovered  to  be  not  an  ordinary 
field-intrenchment,  as  had  been  supposed,  but  a 
strong  stone  citadel,  built  in  the  Spanish  style,  with 
bastioned  intrenchments  and  impassable  ditches 
which  had  recently  been  repaired  and  enlarged. 
The  apparent  difficulty  of  the  undertaking  was 
thus  tenfold  increased ;  but  still  the  soldiers  pressed 
on  without  the  least  diminution  of  ardor.  The 
batteries  of  the  enemy  were  for  a  long  time  silent,  as 
though  their  attendants  were  doubtful  whether  to 
open  or  not.  But  this  was  but  the  deceitful  allure 
ment  whose  object  was  to  get  the  prey  completely 
within  grasp.  On  arriving  within  musket-shot  the 
Americans  were  greeted  with  a  storrn  of  grape  and 
canister,  before  which  their  front  ranks  melted  away 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  399 

and  many  of  the  best  officers  were  killed  or  wounded. 
Without  intermission  was  this  kept  up  until  theii 
lacerated  columns  had  reached  the  slope  of  the 
parapet  leading  to  the  citadel.  Here,  amid  the 
withering  showers  which  smote  their  ranks,  the  ex 
hausted  troops  were  obliged  to  halt.  Their  advance 
had  been  over  a  long,  rugged  road  in  front  of  their 
own  batteries,  and  part  of  the  time  without  their 
support.  A  large  proportion  of  their  number  had 
been  killed  or  wounded,  including  the  three  senior 
officers,  Brevet  Colonel  Mclntosh,  Brevet  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Scott,  and  Major  Waite, — the  second  killed, 
and  the  first  and  last  seriously  wounded.  As  they 
stood  for  a  few  moments  on  the  slope,  the  Casa 
Mata  continued  to  pour  its  fire  upon  them;  and,  per 
plexed  with  the  change  of  commanders  consequent 
on  the  fall  of  Colonel  Mclntosh,  the  brigade  fell 
into  confusion  and  withdrew  to  Duncan's  battery. 

The  latter  branch  of  service,  from  the  time  of  its 
being  covered  by  Mcln tosh's  troops  so  as  to  prevent 
a  continuance  of  its  fire  on  the  enemy,  had  been 
arduously  engaged  in  another  part  of  the  field.  A 
large  cavalry  force  had  appeared  outside  the  enemy's 
works  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  American  line; 
and  against  this  Colonel  Duncan  moved,  supported 
by  the  voltigeurs  of  Cadwalader's  brigade.  As 
the  cavalry  galloped  into  canister-range,  the  whole 
battery  opened  upon  them  with  great  effect,  driving 
back  their  heavy  squadrons  in  disorder.  At  this 
moment  Major  Sumner,  who  had  been  carefully 
watching  the  enemy  all  day,  moved  to  the  front  and 
changed  direction  in  admirable  order,  under  a  most 
appalling  fire  from  Casa  Mata,  of  which  he  was 


400  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

within  pistol-range.  His  loss  was  very  severe, 
numbering  5  officers,  39  soldiers,  and  104  horses. 
The  exposure  was,  however,,  unavoidable,  in 
consequence  of  a  deep  ditch  which  it  was  im 
possible  to  cross  until  he  had  arrived  close  to 
the  Mexican  intrenchments.  After  passing  the 
ravine  he  formed  his  command  in  line,  facing  the 
enemy's  cavalry,  and  prepared  to  receive  their 
charge.  At  seeing  this  they  suddenly  halted,  and 
shortly  afterwards  retired.  The  major  continued  to 
hold  his  command  on  the  left  flank  until  the  battle 
was  won,  changing  his  position  from  time  to  time 
with  every  movement  of  the  cavalry.  During  the 
whole  time  his  men  behaved  with  coolness  and 
bravery ;  and,  notwithstanding  the  number  and 
rapidity  of  their  evolutions,  they  succeeded,  chiefly 
through  the  indefatigable  exertions  of  Captain  Har~ 
dee,  in  avoiding  all  confusion.  The  major  was 
joined,  soon  after  the  commencement  of  the  action, 
by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Moore,  who,  although  declining 
the  command,  remained  with  him  during  the  day. 
Colonel  Harney,  who  was  unwell,  also  came  upon 
the  field  during  the  action,  and,  after  observing  the 
arrangements,  expressed  himself  satisfied,  and  left 
Sumner  to  execute  them,  "for  which,"  archly  ob 
serves  the  major  in  his  report,  "I  am  deeply  obliged 
to  him." 

The  repulse  of  the  second  brigade  enabled  Colonel 
Duncan  to  reopen  his  battery  upon  the  Casa  Mata, 
which  the  enemy,  after  a  short  and  well-directed 
fire,  abandoned.  The  Americans  rushed  into  the 
works  with  loud  cheers,  seized  the  cannon,  and 
turned  them  upon  their  former  owners. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  401 

The  enemy  was  now  driven  from  every  part  of 
the  field,  leaving  his  strong  lines  in  possession  of  the 
assailants.  The  quantity  of  stores  within  the  two 
principal  works  fell  far  short  of  what  had  been 
anticipated,  thus  proving  false  many  of  the  reports 
previously  received  upon  that  subject.  In  obedience 
to  the  commands  of  General  Scott,  the  Casa  Mata 
was  blown  up,  and  such  of  the  captured  ammuni 
tion  as  could  not  be  used,  together  with  the  cannon- 
moulds  found  in  Molino  del  Key,  were  destroyed. 

Thus,  after  several  hours'  incessant  cannonading 
and  fighting,  the  Americans  stormed  and  carried  an 
entire  line  of  strong  fortresses,  defended  by  14,000 
men,  securing  800  prisoners,  all  the  guns,  a  large 
quantity  of  small-arms,  ammunition,  and  other  stores. 
Fifty-two  commissioned  officers  were  among  the 
taken.  Generals  Valdarez  and  Leon,  the  second 
and  third  in  command,  were  killed.  The  total  loss 
of  the  enemy  was  about  3000,  exclusive  of  2000 
who  deserted  after  the  rout. 

These  great  results  were  not  obtained  without  a 
proportionate  loss  on  the  part  of  the  victors.  Be 
sides  being  numerically  great,  the  list  of  killed  and 
wounded  embraced  the  names  of  some  of  the  brightest 
ornaments  of  the  service.  Of  the  first  were  Captains 
Merrill,  E.  K.  Smith,  Ayres,  and  Lieutenants  Strong, 
Farry,  Burwell,  and  Burbank.  "All  of  these  gal 
lant  men,"  says  General  Worth,  "fell  as,  when  it 
pleased  God,  they  would  have  wished  to  fall,  fight 
ing  bravely  at  the  head  of  their  troops,  leaving  a 
bright  example  to  the  service  and  spotless  names  to 
the  cherished  recollections  of  comrades."  Among 

the  wounded  were  Brevet  Major  Wright,  Captains 

26 


402  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

Mason,  Walker,  and  Cady,  and  Lieutenants  Shaokle* 
ford,  Daniels,  Clarke,  Snelling,  and  Foster,  all  of 
whom  highly  distinguished  themselves. 

The  conduct  of  both  cavalry  and  artillery  was 
admirable;  and  the  same  meed  of  praise  is  due  to 
Surnner's  dragoons.  General  Cadwalader  rendered 
most  efficient  service  and  received  the  encomiums 
of  General  Worth.  Among  the  other  officers  simi 
larly  noticed  were  Colonel  Garland,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Duncan,  Brevet  Colonel  Mclntosh,  Captains 
Huger  and  Drum,  Lieutenants  Kirkham,  Nichols, 
and  Thorne,  (the  latter  of  whom  captured  a  regi 
mental  standard,)  and  the  officers  of  Cadwalader's 
brigade.  Worth  withdrew  his  brigade  to  Tacubaya. 
The  operations  of  the  day  had  thrown  the  enemy 
on  the  defensive,  and  left  no  further  obstruction  to 
an  attack  upon  the  city,  save  the  castle  of  Chapul- 
tepec.  Knowing  the  strength  of  this  fortress, 
General  Scott  wisely  refrained  from  an  immediate 
attack,  preferring  to  give  his  troops  the  repose  which 
they  so  much  needed  rather  than  risk  disabling  his 
army  by  over-exertion.  The  dead  were  collected 
and  buried,  the  wounded  rendered  comfortable,  and 
each  division,  with  its  officers,  quartered  where  they 
could  be  protected  from  the  weather. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


403 


COLONEL     BARNEY. 


STORMING   OF   CHAPULTEPEC  AND 
CAPTURE   OF   MEXICO. 

THE  taking  of  Molino  del  Rey  bad  cut  off  the  for 
tress  of  Chapultepec  from  all  immediate  connection 
with  any  of  the  surrounding  fortifications.  The 
assault  upon  it  was  the  next  great  event  of  the  war, 
and  the  first  of  that  brilliant  series  to  which  General 
Scott  gives  the  general  name  "  Battle  of  Mexico.'*  Of 
that  momentous  action,  which  continued  for  more 
than  two  days,  the  storming  of  the  castle  is  the  only 
occurrence  which  is  capable  of  separate  description. 
The  difficulty  of  conveying  an  adequate  idea  of  the 
actions  of  August  has  been  formerly  mentioned ;  but 
the  events  of  Contreras  and  Churubusco  are  simple 


401  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

when  compared  to  those  attending  the  taking  of  the 
capital.  The  plan  of  attack  in  the  latter  brought 
out  the  abilities  of  every  officer  in  the  army  simul 
taneously  and,  with  but  few  exceptions,  in  inde 
pendent  commands. 

Immediately  after  the  victory  of  the  8th,  General 
Scott  commenced  a  series  of  strict  and  daring  recon- 
noissances  of  the  ground  in  the  vicinity  of  the  capi 
tal  and  the  principal  works  of  the  enemy.  These 
were  conducted  by  the  able  engineers  Captain  Lee 
and  Lieutenants  Stephens,  Tower,  and  Beauregard. 
This  service  was,  in  point  of  danger,  equal  to  battle, 
stations  being  frequently  chosen  within  full  range  of 
the  enemy's  batteries  and  even  within  musketry- 
range  of  the  works.  The  observations  were  directed 
principally  to  the  southern  defences,  the  strongly- 
fortified  gates  of  Piedad,  San  Antonio,  San  Angel,  or 
Nino  Perdido,  and  Paseo  de  la  Vega.  These  pre 
sented  a  chain  of  ditches,  intrenchments,  gullies, 
breastworks,  towers,  and  mines,  appalling  to  any 
general  save  one  of  the  first  military  genius  and  ex 
perience.  "  This  city,"  says  the  American  com 
mander,  while  speaking  of  these  defences,  "  stands 
on  a  slight  swell  of  ground,  near  the  centre  of  an 
irregular  basin,  and  is  girdled  with  a  ditch  in  its 
greatest  extent, — a  navigable  canal  of  great  breadth 
and  depth, — very  difficult  to  bridge  in  the  presence 
of  an  enemy,  and  serving  at  once  for  drainage,  cus 
tom-house  purposes,  and  military  defence,  having 
eight  entrances  or  gates,  over  arches,  each  of  which 
we  found  defended  by  a  system  of  strong  works  that 
seemed  to  require  nothing  but  some  men  and  guns 
to  be  impregnable. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  405 

"Outsile  and  within  the  cross-fires  of  those  gates 
we  found,  to  the  south,  other  obstacles  but  little  less 
formidable.  All  the  approaches  near  the  city  are 
over  elevated  causeways,  cut  in  many  places  (to  op 
pose  us)  and  flanked  on  both  sides  by  ditches,  also 
of  unusual  dimensions.  The  numerous  cross-roads 
are  flanked  in  like  manner,  having  bridges  at  the 
intersections,  recently  broken.  The  meadows  thus 
checkered  are,  moreover,  in  many  spots,  under  water 
or  marshy ;  for,  it  will  be  remembered,  we  were  in 
the  midst  of  the  wet  season,  though  with  less  rain 
than  usual,  and  we  could  not  wait  for  the  fall  of  the 
neighboring  lakes  and  the  consequent  drainage  of 
the  wet  grounds  at  the  edge  of  the  city, — the  lowest 
in  the  whole  basin." 

An  attack  upon  the  city  in  this  quarter  would 
perhaps  have  been  successful;  but  it  would  have 
been  at  a  loss  greater  than  has  ever  yet  been  expe 
rienced  by  an  American  army.  General  Scott,  there 
fore,  with  that  regard  to  the  lives  of  his  soldiers 
which  has  ever  formed  a  prominent  feature  in  his 
character,  and  rejecting  the  vain  glory  acquired  by 
gaining  a  great  battle  at  any  expense,  promptly  de 
termined  to  avoid  the  network  of  obstacles  on  the 
south  and  seek  less  unfavorable  approaches  by  a 
sudden  inversion  towards  the  west. 

"  To  economize  the  lives  of  our  gallant  officers  and 
men,"  says  the  general,  "  as  well  as  to  insure  success, 
it  became  indispensable  that  this  resolution  should 
be  long  masked  from  the  enemy;  and,  again,  that 
the  new  movement,  when  discovered,  should  be  mis 
taken  for  a  feint,  and  the  old  as  indicating  our  true 
and  ultimate  point  of  attack."  This  design  could  be 


406  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

executed  only  by  means  of  a  well-conducted  strata 
gem,  whose  most  important  part  would  be  to  pre 
vent  the  enemy  from  removing  his  guns  in  the 
southern  defences  to  the  new  point  of  attack.  Thie 
was  executed  in  a  manner  which,  while  securing  the 
lives  of  the  troops,  threw  the  balance  of  advantages 
in  their  hands,  and  afforded  one  more  instance  of  the 
eminent  scientific  abilities  of  the  man  who,  with  a 
handful  of  troops,  had  fought  his  way  through  hos 
tile  armies  to  the  gates  of  the  enemy's  capital.  We 
give  the  arrangements  of  his  plan  in  his  own 
words : — 

"Accordingly,  on  the  spot,  the  llth,  I  ordered 
Quitman's  division  from  Coyoacan  to  join  Pillow  % 
daylight  before  the  southern  gates,  and  then  that  the 
two  major-generals,  with  their  divisions,  should  by 
night  proceed  (two  miles)  to  join  me  at  Tacubaya, 
where  I  was  quartered  with  Worth's  division. 
Twiggs,  with  Riley's  brigade  and  Captains  Taylor's 
and  Steptoe's  field-batteries, — the  latter  of  twelve- 
pounders, — was  left  in  front  of  those  gates  to  man 
oeuvre,  to  threaten,  or  to  make  false  attacks,  in  order 
to  occupy  and  deceive  the  enemy.  Twiggs's  other 
brigade  (Smith's)  was  left  at  supporting-distance  in 
the  rear,  at  San  Angel,  till  the  morning  of  the  13th, 
and  also  to  support  our  general  depot  at  Mixcoac. 
The  stratagem  against  the  south  was  admirably  exe 
cuted,  throughout  the  12th  and  down  to  the  after 
noon  of  the  13th,  when  it  was  too  late  for  the  enemy 
to  recover  from  the  effects  of  his  delusion. 

"  The  first  step  in  the  new  movement  was  to 
carry  Chapultepec, — a  natural  and  isolated  mound, 
of  great  elevation,  strongly  fortified  at  its  base,  on 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  407 

its  acclivities  and  heights.  Besides  a  numerous  gar 
rison,  here  was  the  military  college  of  the  republic, 
with  a  large  number  of  sub-lieutenants  and  other 
students.  Those  works  were  within  direct  gunshot 
of  the  village  of  Tacubaya,  and,  until  carried,  we 
could  not  approach  the  city  on  the  west  without 
making  a  circuit  too  wide  and  too  hazardous. 

"  In  the  course  of  the  same  night  (that  of  the 
llth)  heavy  batteries  within  easy  ranges  were  esta 
blished.  No.  1,  on  our  right,  under  the  command  of 
Captain  Drum,  4th  artillery,  (relieved  the  next  day 
for  some  hours  by  Lieutenant  Andrews,  of  the  3d,) 
and  No.  2,  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Hagner,  ord 
nance, — both  supported  by  Quitman's  division.  Nos. 
3  and  4,  on  the  opposite  side,  supported  by  Pillow's 
division,  were  commanded,  the  former  by  Captain 
Brooks  and  Lieutenant  S.  S.  Anderson,  2d  artillery, 
alternately,  and  the  latter  by  Lieutenant  Stone,  ord 
nance.  The  batteries  were  traced  by  Captain  Huger 
and  Captain  Lee,  engineer,  and  constructed  by  them, 
with  the  able  assistance  of  the  young  officers  of  those 
corps  and  artillery. 

"To  prepare  for  an  assault,  it  was  foreseen  that 
the  play  of  the  batteries  might  run  into  the  second 
day ;  but  recent  captures  had  not  only  trebled  our 
siege-pieces,  but  also  our  ammunition,  and  we  knew 
that  we  should  greatly  augment  both  by  carrying 
the  place.  I  was  therefore  in  no  haste  in  ordering 
an  assault  before  the  works  were  well  crippled  by 
our  missiles." 

The  disposition  of  forces  thus  sketched  should  be 
borne  in  mind  while  taking  a  survey  of  the  subse 
quent  operations.  The  whole  army  was  divided  into 


408  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

two  great  sections,  each  performing  duties  distinct 
from  the  other  yet  essential  to  the  success  of  th^ 
final  operations.  One  of  these  amused  the  enemy 
and  prevented  him  from  employing  to  much  effect 
his  strongest  forces ;  the  other  conducted  the  assault 
at  numerous  points  of  the  western  defences.  The 
former  duty  was  intrusted  to  General  Twiggs,  with 
Kiley's  brigade  and  two  batteries;  while  Smith's 
brigade  remained  as  a  supporting  reserve.  At  the 
same  time  the  divisions  of  Quitrnan  and  Pillow 
marched  by  night  from  the  neighborhood  of  the 
southern  defences  and  joined  General  Scott  at  Tacu- 
baya,  preparatory  to  the  assault  upon  Chapultepec. 
This  hill  lay  between  Twiggs's  station  and  the 
western  portion  of  the  city,  whither  General  Scott 
designed  to  make  his  attack.  To  pass  between  it 
and  the  city-wall  was  impossible;  and  to  march 
around  on  the  opposite  side  would  have  consumed 
so  much  time  as  to  unfold  the  stratagem  to  the 
enemy  and  thus  defeat  one  important  object  of  it. 
There  remained  therefore  no  alternative  but  to  storm 
the  fortress,  since,  by  so  doing,  the  enemy  would 
still  be  in  the  dark  as  to  the  ultimate  point  of  at 
tack,  and  might  easily  be  induced  to  believe  that  in 
case  of  capturing  it  the  Americans  would  resume 
their  station  near  the  southern  gates.  Subsequent 
disclosures  proved  that  they  labored  under  this  de 
lusion. 

The  two  batteries  of  Captain  Drum  and  Lieute 
nant  Hagner,  supporting  Quitman's  division,  and 
those  of  Captain  Brooks  and  Lieutenant  Stone,  sup 
porting  Pillow,  opened  on  the  castle  early  on  the 
12th.  The  bombardment  and  cannonade  were  super- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


409 


intended  by  Captain  Huger  and  continued  during 
the  whole  day.  During  the  continuance  of  this 
dreary  work  Twiggs  was  actively  plying  his  guns 
on  the  southern  side,  in  order  to  prevent  the  arrival 
of  reinforcements  at  Chapultepec.  The  bombard 
ment  at  length  became  so  severe  that  all  the  garri- 


CHAPCLTEPEC. 


son,  excepting  a  number  sufficient  to  manage,  aban 
doned  their  works  and  formed  on  a  secure  position 
of  the  hill,  where  they  could  easily  return  in  case 
of  an  assault.  As  night  approached,  the  fire  of  the 
assailants  necessarily  ceased;  but  it  was  observed 
that  a  good  impression  had  been  made  upon  the 
castle  and  its  outworks. 

No  changes  of   position   were   made  during  the 


410  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

night  of  the  12th,  so  that  early  on  the  following 
morning  the  guns  reopened  upon  the  castle.  At 
the  same  moment  those  of  Twiggs  were  heard  bat 
tering  the  gates  of  San  Antonio  and  Piedad.  The 
Mexicans  were  again  observed  upon  the  hill,  hold 
ing  themselves  in  readiness  for  an  assault. 

Meanwhile  the  general-in-chief  was  actively  pre 
paring  to  storm  the  work.  The  force  designed  for 
this  service  consisted  of  two  columns,  acting  inde 
pendently  and  on  different  sides  of  the  hill.  The 
first  was  led  by  General  Pillow,  the  second  by 
General  Quitman, — the  commands  of  these  officers 
being  reinforced  by  corps  from  other  divisions.  On 
the  previous  evening  Worth  had  received  orders  to 
designate  a  party  from  his  division  to  assist  Pillow, 
and  immediately  organized  a  command  of  260  men, 
with  ten  officers,  under  Captain  McKenzie.  He  was 
also  advised  to  take  position  with  the  remainder  of 
his  division  and  support  Pillow,  in  case  that  officer 
should  request  his  aid.  He  accordingly  chose  a 
favorable  position  and  reported  himself  to  Pillow. 
At  the  same  time  Smith's  brigade  was  ordered  to 
proceed  towards  the  hill  and  support  Quitman's 
column.  These  troops  arrived  on  the  following 
morning,  after  marching  over  an  exposed  road  two 
miles  in  length.  Twiggs  also  supplied  a  reinforce 
ment  to  Quitman's  storming  column,  about  equal  in 
number  to  that  from  Worth's  division  and  com 
manded  by  Captain  Casey. 

The  signal  for  the  march  of  the  storming  parties 
was  the  momentary  cessation  of  fire  from  the  heavy 
batteries.  At  about  eight  o'clock  on  the  morning 
of  the  13th,  General  Scott  despatched  an  aid  to  Gene- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  411 

ral  Pillow,  and  another  to  Quitman,  to  inform  them 
that  this  was  about  to  be  given.  Immediately  the 
whole  field  was  covered  with  the  troops  of  the  assail 
ing  parties  moving  into  position.  At  the  same  mo 
ment  a  number  of  Mexican  soldiers  outside  the  fort 
rushed  into  it  and  prepared  to  resist  the  assault. 

General  Pillow,  in  the  morning,  had  placed  two 
field-pieces  of  Magruder's  field-battery  inside  the 
Molino  del  Rey,  to  clear  a  sand-bag  breastwork 
which  the  enemy  had  constructed  without  the  main 
wall  surrounding  Chapultepec,  so  as  to  annoy  any 
party  assailing  the  principal  works.  Through  the 
houses  and  walls  of  the  mill  she  had  also  placed  a 
howitzer-battery,  to  aid  in  driving  the  enemy  from 
a  strong  intrenchment  which  extended  nearly  across 
the  front  of  the  forest  and  commanded  the  only  ap 
proach  to  Chapultepec  on  that  side.  At  the  same 
time  he  placed  in  position  four  companies  of  the 
voltigeur  regiment,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  John- 
stone,  with  instructions  to  advance  by  a  rapid  move 
ment  on  the  outside  and  enter  the  enclosure  after 
it  had  been  gained  by  the  storming  parties.  Four 
other  companies  of  voltigeurs  were  placed,  under 
Colonel  Andrews,  at  a  narrow  gateway  opening  from 
the  rear  of  the  mills,  with  orders  to  advance  in  front, 
and,  uniting  with  Colonel  Johnstone's  command,  to 
deploy  as  skirmishers  and  drive  a  body  of  the  enemy 
from  some  large  trees  among  which  it  had  taken 
shelter. 

Every  thing  being  now  in  readiness,  the  heavy 
batteries  were  silenced,  and  immediately  the  storm 
ing  columns  rushed  forward  to  the  attack.  Know 
ing  too  well  the  object  of  this  movement,  the  Mexi- 


412  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

cans  opened  all  their  batteries,  the  fires  from  which 
swept  every  approach  and  glared  in  front  of  the  ad 
vancing  troops  like  a  volcano.  On  they  rushed, 
driving  the  enemy  from  the  woods,  and,  reaching 
the  hill,  commenced  the  ascent.  At  this  moment 
General  Pillow  was  struck  from  his  horse  by  a  grape- 
shot,  and  the  command  devolved  on  Cadwalader. 
The  former  general  would  not  leave  the  field,  but 
employed  some  of  his  men  to  carry  him  up  the  hill, 
in  order  that  he  might  be  a  witness  of  the  result. 
Under  command  of  the  intrepid  officer  from  Penn 
sylvania,  the  troops  entered  the  enemy's  drizzling 
fires  and  labored  over  the  steep  rocks.  "  The  broken 
acclivity,"  says  the  general-in-chief,  while  describing 
Cadwalader's  advance,  "was  still  to  be  ascended, 
and  a  strong  redoubt  midway  to  be  carried,  before 
reaching  the  castle  on  the  heights.  The  advance  of 
our  brave  officers,  though  necessarily  slow,  was  un 
wavering,  over  rocks,  chasms,  and  mines,  and  under 
the  hottest  fire  of  cannon  and  musketry.  The  re 
doubt  now  yielded  to  resistless  valor,  and  the  shouts 
that  followed  announced  to  the  castle  the  fate  that 
impended.  The  enemy  were  steadily  driven  from 
shelter  to  shelter.  The  retreat  allowed  not  time  to 
fire  a  single  mine  without  the  certainty  of  blowing 
up  friend  and  foe.  Those  who  at  a  distance  at 
tempted  to  apply  matches  to  the  long  trains  were 
shot  down  by  our  men.  There  was  death  below  as 
well  as  above  ground.  At  length  the  ditch  and  wall 
of  the  main  work  were  reached;  the  scaling-ladders 
were  brought  up  and  planted  by  the  storming-parties. 
Some  of  the  daring  spirits  first  in  the  assault  were 
?ast  down,  killed  or  wounded  ;  but  a  lodgment  was 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  413 

soon  made ;  streams  of  heroes  followed ;  all  opposi 
tion  was  overcome,  and  several  of  our  regimental 
colors  were  flung  out  from  the  upper  walls,  amid 
long-continued  shouts  and  cheers,  which  sent  dismay 
into  the  capital.  No  scene  could  have  been  moie 
animating  or  glorious." 

Conspicuous  in  this  charge  was  the  gallant  Colonel 
Ransom,  of  the  9th  infantry,  who  met  a  soldier's 
death  while  leading  his  troops  up  the  summit  to  the 
castle.  He  was  shot  in  the  forehead.  Major  Sey 
mour  succeeded  him,  and,  on  arriving  before  the 
walls,  mounted  the  ladders,  leaped  upon  the  parapet, 
and  tore  down  with  his  own  hands  the  Mexican 
colors. 

Simultaneously  with  this  attack,  General  Quit- 
man's  troops  approached  the  fortress  on  the  opposite 
side.  At  early  dawn  he  had  opened  his  batteries 
with  much  effect  and  commenced  preparations  for 
the  assault.  Ladders,  pickaxes,  and  crows,  were 
placed  in  the  hands  of  a  pioneer  storming-party  of 
120  men,  selected  from  all  corps  of  the  division  and 
commanded  by  Major  Twiggs.  At  this  time  Gene 
ral  Smith  arrived  with  his  brigade,  and  was  in 
structed  to  move  in  reserve  on  the  right  flank  of 
the  assaulting  column,  to  protect  it  from  skirmishes 
or  more  serious  attacks,  and,  if  possible,  cross  the 
aqueduct  leading  to  the  city  and  cut  off  the  enemy's 
retreat. 

These  dispositions  being  completed,  the  whole 
command,  at  the  preconcerted  signal,  moved  forward 
with  confidence  and  enthusiasm.  At  the  base  of 
the  hill  constituting  part  of  the  defences,  and  directly 
across  the  line  of  advance,  were  strong  batteries, 


414  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

flanked  on  the  right  by  equally  strong  buildings, 
and  by  a  heavy  stone  wall,  about  fifteen  feet  high, 
which  extended  around  the  base  of  the  hill,  towards 
the  west.  The  troops  were,  however,  partially 
covered  by  some  dilapidated  buildings  at  about  two 
hundred  yards'  distance.  Between  these  and  the 
wall  extended  a  low  meadow,  whose  long  grass  con 
cealed  a  number  of  wet  ditches,  by  which  it  was  in 
tersected  ;  and  to  this  point  the  command,  partially 
screened,  advanced  by  a  flank  movement,  having  the 
storming-partit's  in  front,  who  sustained  a  heavy 
fire  from  the  enemy's  fortress,  batteries,  and  breast 
works.  Here,  under  partial  cover  of  the  ruins,  the 
advance  was  halted,  and,  upon  the  appearance  of 
the  New  York  and  South  Carolina  regiments,  Gene 
ral  Shields  was  directed  to  move  them  obliquely  to 
the  left,  across  the  low  ground,  to  the  wall  at  the 
base  of  the  hill.  Encouraged  by  the  presence  of  the 
man  who  had  led  them  to  victory  at  Churubusco, 
these  tried  regiments  waded  through  deep  ditches, 
while  the  water  around  them  was  foaming  with  the 
enemy's  shot,  and,  rushing  forward  together,  effected 
a  lodgment  at  the  wall.  Similar  orders  were  given 
to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Geary  and  executed  by  his 
regiment  with  equal  alacrity  and  success.  While 
cheering  on  his  men,  General  Shields  was  severely 
wounded  in  the  arm ;  but  no  inducement  could  per 
suade  him  to  leave  his  command  or  quit  the  field. 
About  the  same  time  the  esteemed  Lieutenant-Colo 
nel  Baxter  was  mortally  wounded,  Lieutenant-Colo 
nel  Geary  disabled,  and  Captain  Van  O'Linda  killed. 
During  this  advance,  Brigadier-General  Smith 
was  driving  back  skirmishing-parties  of  the  enemy 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  415 

on  the  left,  Lieutenant  Benjamin,  at  the  first  bat 
tery,  was  pouring  shot  after  shot  into  the  fortress 
and  wood's  on  the  slope,  while  Lieutenant  Hunt, 
having  obtained  a  favorable  position  in  the  rear,  also 
threw  shells  and  shrapnell-shot  into  the  enemy's 
lines  with  good  effect.  At  this  moment  General 
Quitman  ordered  the  storming-parties  to  the  assault. 
Led  by  their  gallant  officers,  they  rushed  on  in  one 
unbroken  tide,  while  the  batteries  from  behind  con 
tinued  to  pour  shells  and  shot  over  their  heads  into 
the  enemy's  fortress.  The  Mexican  fire  was  tre 
mendous  ;  but,  without  pausing  for  a  moment,  the 
Americans  swept  on  until  they  reached  the  outer 
breastworks.  Here  for  a  short  time  the  contest 
was  terrible.  Hand  to  hand  the  fierce  antagonists 
met  each  other's  strokes,  while,  as  though  pausing 
for  the  result,  died  away  the  loud  noise  of  opposing 
batteries.  Swords  and  bayonets  were  crossed,  rifles 
clubbed,  and  friend  and  foe  mingled  in  one  confused 
struggling  mass.  Resistance,  however,  to  the  des 
perate  valor  of  the  assailants  was  vain.  The  bat 
teries  and  strong  works  were  swept,  and  the  ascent 
to  Chapul tepee  laid  open  on  that  side.  Seven  pieces 
of  artillery,  one  thousand  muskets,  and  550  prisoners, 
were  the  trophies  of  victory.  Among  the  prisoners 
were  100  officers,  including  a  general  and  ten  colonels, 
Captain  Casey,  the  gallant  leader  of  the  storming- 
party  of  regulars,  having  received  a  severe  wound 
when  directly  in  front  of  the  batteries,  the  command 
devolved  on  Captain  Paul,  who  during  the  re 
mainder  of  the  day  distinguished  himseF  for  his 
bravery.  The  storming-party  from  the  volunteer 
division  also  lost  its  commander,  the  lamented  Major 


416  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

Twiggs,  and  was  led,  during  the  remainder  of  the 
attack,  by  Captain  James  Miller. 

At  the  same  time  the  volunteer  regiments  on  the 
left,  animated  by  a  generous  enthusiasm,  were  as 
cending  the  hill  on  the  south  side.  Fighting  their 
way  through  every  obstacle,  these  brave  men  fell  in 
with  their  comrades  of  General  Pillow's  division ; 
and  side  by  side,  amid  the  storm  of  battle,  the  colors 
of  the  two  commands  were  seen  struggling  together 
up  the  steep  ascent.  At  this  moment  the  American 
batteries,  which  had  continued  their  fire  upon  the 
castle  over  the  heads  of  the  assailants,  ceased ;  and 
immediately  after  the  troops  gained  the  summit. 
The  short  but  obstinate  struggle  has  been  described. 
The  veteran  Mexican  general  Bravo,  with  a  number 
of  other  officers,  was  captured  by  Lieutenant  Charles 
Brower,  of  the  New  York  regiment.  In  the  assault 
upon  the  works,  Lieutenant  Steele,  with  a  portion 
of  the  storming-party,  had  advanced  in  front  of  the 
batteries,  towards  the  left,  scaled  the  outer  wall 
through  a  breach  near  the  top,  ascended  a  hill  in 
front,  and  was  among  the  first  upon  the  battlements. 

After  giving  the  necessary  directions  for  the  safe 
keeping  of  the  prisoners,  General  Quitman  ordered 
his  troops  to  form  near  the  aqueduct,  and  hastily 
ascended  the  hill  for  the  purpose  of  reconnoitring 
the  enemy's  position  in  front  of  the  city.  There  he 
met  with  Major-General  Pillow,  who,  as  formerly 
stated,  had  been  carried  by  his  troops  to  the  castle 
in  order  to  enjoy  the  triumph  of  the  occasion. 

In  speaking  of  this  brilliant  affair,  General  Pillow 
says,  "  We  took  about  800  prisoners,  among  whom 
were  Major-General  Bravo,  Brigadier-Generals  Mon- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  417 

terde,  Monega,  Dorarnentas,  and  Saldana ;  also  three 
colonels,  seven  lieutenant-colonels,  40  captains,  and 
24  first  and  27  second  lieutenants. 

"  That  the  enemy  was  in  large  force  I  know  cer 
tainly  from  personal  observation.  I  know  it  also 
from  the  fact  that  there  were  killed  and  taken  pri 
soners  one  major-general  and  six  brigadiers.  As 
there  were  six  brigadier-generals,  there  could  not 
havo  been  less  than  six  brigades.  One  thousand 
men  to  each  brigade  (which  is  a  low  estimate,  for 
we  had  previously  taken  so  many  general  officers 
prisoners  that  the  commands  of  others  must  have 
been  considerably  increased)  would  make  6000 
troops.  But,  independent  of  these  evidences  of  the 
enemy's  strength,  I  have  General  Bravo's  own  ac 
count  of  the  strength  of  his  command,  given  me 
only  a  few  minutes  after  he  was  taken  prisoner. 
He  communicated  to  me,  through  Passed  Midship 
man  Rogers,  that  there  were  upwards  of  6000  men 
in  the  works  and  surrounding  grounds.  The  killed, 
wounded,  and  prisoners,  agreeably  to  the  best  esti 
mate  I  can  form,  were  about  1800,  and  immense 
numbers  of  the  enemy  were  seen  to  escape  over  the 
wall  on  the  north  and  west  sides  of  Chapultepec." 

Many  of  those  who.  distinguished  themselves  in 
this  assault  have  been  given  in  connection  with  the 
narrative ;  a  mere  list  of  others  mentioned  with  en 
comiums  by  the  different  commanders  would  alone 
fill  a  moderate  chapter.  Where  all  behaved  as  did 
the  victors  of  Chapultepec,  it  is  indeed  difficult  to 
discriminate  in  the  awarding  of  praise.  The  feat 
will  remain  in  American  history  as  a  proud  trophy 

to  American  valor:  and  the  fact  of  being  on'?  of  the 

•  27 


418  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

participators  in  it  will  insure  to  many  a  soldier  the 
esteem  and  admiration  of  countrymen  while  he  lives, 
and  a  grateful  veneration  of  his  memory  after  death. 

While  the  assault  was  going  on,  on  the  west  and 
southeast  of  Chapultepec,  and  on  its  heights,  two 
companies  of  infantry,  under  Colonel  Ironsdale  and 
Lieutenant  Hebert,  aided  by  Captain  Magruder's 
field-battery,  had  some  spirited  skirmishes  with  dif 
ferent  parties  of  the  enemy.  In  one  of  these  offi 
cers  and  men  behaved  in  a  gallant  manner:  they 
drove  the  gunners  from  a  battery  in  the  road,  and 
captured  a  piece.  Colonel  Ironsdale  was  twice 
wounded,  but  continued  on  duty  until  the  heights 
were  carried. 

Immediately  after  the  capture  of  Chapultepec, 
General  Scott  made  active  preparations  for  following 
up  his  success  by  an  attack  upon  the  capital.  There 
are  two  routes  from  Chapultepec  to  the  city, — one 
leading  to  the  Belen  gate,  the  other  to  the  gate  of 
San  Cosine,  both  of  which  were  strongly  fortified. 
Worth  advanced  along  the  San  Cosine  road,  and 
Quitman  by  that  of  Belen.  Both  these  generals 
were  strongly  reinforced  with  troops  and  heavy  siege- 
guns.  As  the  San  Cosme  gate  was  judged  to  be  the 
least  difficult  of  entrance,  Scott  intended  that  Quit 
man  should  merely  manoeuvre  while  Worth  made  the 
main  attack.  But  Quitman  pressed  on,  under  flank 
and  direct  fires,  and  carried  the  Belen  gate  after  a 
desperate  struggle  and  severe  loss.  Worth  advanced, 
preceded  by  skirmishers  and  pioneers  with  axes  to 
force  windows  and  doors,  and  by  eight  o'clock  in  the 
evening  had  carried  two  batteries  and  driven  the 
enemy  into  the  heart  of  the  city.  The  American 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


419 


troops  in  the  city  were  sheltered  during  the  night 
About  four  o'clock  in  the  morning  a  deputation 
from  the  city  authorities  reached  General  Scott,  re 
ported  that  the  Mexican  army  had  fled,  and  de 
manded  terms  of  capitulation.  General  Scott,  know 
ing  his  forces  to  be  already  in  possession  of  the  city, 
would  not  listen  to  any  terms  dictated  by  the 


CiTT    OF    MEXICO. 


authorities,  and,  about  daylight,  ordered  General 
Quitman  to  advance  and  take  possession  of  the 
Grand  Plaza  and  government-buildings.  Quitman 
immediately  executed  the  order,  and  soon  the  star- 
spangled  banner  was  floating  over  the  National 
Palace.  As  the  remainder  of  the  army  entered 
Mexico,  the  troops  were  fired  upon  by  about  2000 
liberated  convicts,  posted  on  the  tops  of  houses  and 


420 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


at  the  corners  of  streets.  This  unlawful  warfare 
lasted  twenty-four  hours,  and  was  not  suppressed 
until -many  officers  and  men  were  killed  or  wounded. 
The  convicts  were  punished.  General  Quitman  was 
appointed  military  governor  of  the  city. 

Thus,  in  less  than  one  month,  8000  men  fought 
eight  important  battles,  stormed  castles,  towns,  and 
redoubts,  garrisoned  with  three  times  the  number 
of  assailants;  defeated  32,000  Mexican  veterans, 
killing  7000  and  capturing  3700  and  13  generals, 
of  whom  three  were  ex-presidents;  taking  more 
than  twenty  standards,  one  hundred  and  twenty-two 
cannon,  twenty  thousand  small-arms,  with  an  im 
mense  quantity  of  shot,  shells,  &c. ;  and  finally  en 
tered  in  triumph  a  capital  where  every  wall  was  a 
fortification,  every  house  a  fort,  and  which  contained 
a  population  of  nearly  200,000  souls. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


COLONEL     CHILD  S. 


SIEGE  OF  PUEBLA. 

ON  the  march  of  the  American  army  from  Puebla 
towards  the  capital,  the  command  of  that  city  was 
intrusted  to  Colonel  Childs.  His  total  force  was 
ahout  400  men,  consisting  of  forty-six  cavalry,  under 
Captain  Ford,  two  companies  of  artillery,  under 
Captains  Kendrick  and  Miller,  and  six  companies 
of  the  1st  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  under  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Black.  With  this  small  command 
the  grand  depot  in  the  city  named  San  Jose,  and 


4*22  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

the  posts  of  Loreto  and  Guadalupe,  were  to  be  gar 
risoned  and  held  against  the  combined  efforts  of  the 
military  and  populace  in  Puebla.  San  Jose  was  the 
key  of  the  colonel's  position,  on  the  safety  of  which 
that  of  every  other  depended. 

In  addition  to  the  smallness  of  the  garrison  and 
the  extent  of  space  to  be  covered,  the  Americans 
were  encumbered  with  1800  sick.  The  hospitals 
for  these  were  situated  in  isolated  positions,  while 
the  surgeons  were  provided  with  but  six  attendants. 

After  the  departure  of  the  main  army,  no  acts  of 
hostility  other  than  the  occasional  murdering  of  a 
straggling  soldier  occurred  until  September  13,  the 
same  day  iu  which  the  Mexican  capital  was  taken. 
During  the  night  of  that  date  the  enemy  opened  a 
fire  upon  the  Americans  from  the  streets  of  Puebla. 
Colonel  Childs  had  for  some  time  been  expecting 
this,  and  had  removed  all  the  hospitals  within  the 
protection  of  San  Jose  and  placed  every  man  of  his 
command  on  duty.  The  firing  of  the  13th  continued 
languidly  until  after  daylight,  when  every  thing 
became  quiet.  On  the  night  of  the  14th  the  guns 
were  reopened  with  a  violence  which  convinced  the 
colonel  that  the  siege  had  commenced  in  earnest.  A 
storm  of  bombs  and  shot  was  thrown  into  the  forti 
fications  until  morning,  while  numerous  bodies  of 
troops  were  heard  taking  up  positions  around  the 
American  stations.  On 'the  15th  large  parties  of 
cavalry  were  observed  in  the  fields,  gathering  together 
the  sheep  and  cattle  and  endeavoring  to  turn  the 
stream  of  water  which  supplies  San  Jose.  In  the 
evening  Colonel  Childs  organized  two  parties  to 
secure,  if  possible,  some  of  the  live-stock.  They 


NATAL     EXPLOITS.  423 

succeeded  in  capturing  thirty  oxen  and  four  hundred 
sheep, — a  most  seasonable  supply  at  the  time. 

During  the  day  the  fire  of  the  enemy  was  un 
abated,  and  large  reinforcements  were  observed  to 
join  them  from  the  interior.  Nearly  every  station 
in  the  city  from  which  a  battery  could  be  discharged 
was  now  occupied  by  the  Mexicans,  and,  under  a 
most  tremendous  fire,  the  Americans  labored  night 
and  day  in  completing  their  defences  and  preparing 
for  an  assault. 

On  the  22d,  General  Santa  Anna  arrived  with  a 
large  force  from  Mexico.  His  appearance  was  hailed 
by  discharges  of  cannon,  a  general  ringing  of  bells, 
and  other  demonstrations  of  joy.  A  battery  at 
Loreto  was  opened  by  command  of  Colonel  Childs, 
which,  throwing  shells  and  round-shot  into  the  heart 
of  the  city^  did  considerable  execution,  besides 
causing  a  temporary  suspension  of  the  rejoicing. 
Santa  Anna,  with  his  customary  activity,  imme 
diately  began  preparations  for  an  assault.  New 
batteries  were  planted,  storming-parties  designated, 
and  a  more  perfect  organization  of  the  besiegers 
enforced. 

On  the  25th  Childs  received  a  summons  to  sur 
render,  with  the  assurance  that  he  would  be  treated 
in  a  manner  worthy  of  his  valor  and  military  rank. 
This  was  declined.  After  despatching  his  answer, 
the  colonel  rode  to  the  different  posts  of  his  garrison, 
announcing  the  demand,  together  with  the  reply. 
This  was  received  by  the  soldiers  in  a  manner  which 
convinced  him  of  their  determination  to  endure 
every  hardship  and  danger  rather  than  disgrace 
themselves  by  yielding  to  the  Mexican  forces. 


424  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

After  receiving  this  answer  from  the  American 
commander,  Santa  Anna  opened  his  batteries  upon 
San  Jose,  which  now  became  the  principal  point  of 
attack.  Its  garrison  consisted  of  Ford's  cavalry, 
Miller's  artillery,  four  companies  of  volunteers,  and 
a  hospital,  with  its  guard,  under  Captain  Rowe.  The 
whole  was  commanded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Black. 
"The  duty  required  of  this  command,"  says  Colonel 
Childs,  "  in  consequence  of  the  various  points  to  be 
defended,  demanded  an  untiring  effort  on  the  part 
of  every  officer  and  soldier.  A  shower  of  bullets 
was  constantly  poured  from  the  streets,  the  bal 
conies,  the  house-tops  and  churches,  upon  their 
devoted  heads.  Never  did  troops  endure  more 
fatigue,  by  watching  night  after  night,  nor  exhibit 
more  patience,  spirit,  and  gallantry.  Not  a  post  of 
danger  could  present  itself  but  the  gallant  fellows 
were  ready  to  fill  it.  Not  a  sentinel  could  be  shot 
but  another  was  anxious  and  ready  to  take  his  place. 
Officers  and  soldiers  vied  with  each  other  to  be 
honored  martyrs  in  their  country's  cause.  This  is 
the  general  character  of  the  troops  I  had  the  honor 
to  command;  and  I  was  confident  the  crown  of 
victory  would  perch  upon  their  standard  when  the 
last  great  effort  should  be  made." 

In  order  as  far  as  possible  to  secure  San  Jose 
from  the  enemy's  shot.  Childs  threw  up  a  traverse  on 
the  plaza,  and  withdrew  a  twelve-pounder  from 
Loreto  to  answer  the  besieging  batteries.  On  the 
evening  of  the  30th  a  new  battery  of  Santa  Anna 
ceased,  and  on  the  following  morning  was  with 
drawn,  together  with  about  3000  of  the  supporting 
force.  The  object  of  this  movement  was  to  meet 


NA7AL     EXPLOITS.  425 

some  reinforcements  daily  expected  at  Final.  Taking 
advantage  of  it,  Colonel  Childs  determined  on  a 
sortie  against  certain  barricades  and  buildings 
whose  fire  had  become  very  annoying. 

The  sortie  was  made  on  the  2d  of  October,  by 
two  parties  commanded  by  Captain  Win.  F.  Small, 
of  the  1st  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  and  Lieutenant 
Morgan,  of  the  14th  regiment.  The  captain,  after 
passing  through  the  walls  of  an  entire  square,  with 
50  men,  gained  a  position  opposite  the  barricade, 
from  wrhich  he  drove  the  enemy  with  great  loss,  and 
burned  one  hundred  and  fifty  cotton-bales,  of  which 
the  work  was  composed.  Seventeen  Mexicans  were 
killed  upon  the  spot.  Lieutenant  Laidley,  of  the 
ordnance  corps,  was  then  sent  to  blow  up  a  promi 
nent  building,  which  he  successfully  accomplished. 
The  whole  party  were  then  withdrawn.  In  this 
affair  they  had  behaved  with  great  gallantry,  and 
for  twenty-four  hours  were  unceasing  in  their  labors 
to  accomplish  their  object.  Their  loss  was  but  a  few 
wounded. 

At  the  same  time  Lieutenants  Morgan  and  Merry- 
field,  with  detachments  from  the  marines  and  Rifles, 
attempted  to  gain  possession  of  some  buildings  from 
which  the  depot  was  receiving  a  heavy  fire.  The 
latter  officer  succeeded  in  entering;  but  Lieutenant 
Morgan  was  not  so  fortunate.  After  several  despe 
rate  efforts  to  force  a  passage  through  the  strong 
detachment  opposed  to  him,  he  was  directed  by 
Colonel  Childs  to  fall  back.  These  gallant  feats 
were  a  severe  check  upon  the  enemy  and  produced 
a  sensible  dimunition  of  their  fire.  Other  minor 
acts  of  bravery  were  performed  by  officers  and  men 


426 


BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 


at  San  Jose,  while  from  Guadalupe  one  or  two  suc 
cessful  sorties  were  made  upon  the  enemy  while 
engaged  in  their  daily  attacks  upon  San  Jose. 

Immediately  after  this  disaster  Santa  Anna  left 
the  besieging  forces  and  hurried  to  oppose  the  march 
of  General  Lane  from  Yera  Cruz.  The  bombard 
ment  and  cannonade  continued,  however,  with 
diminished  energy,  until  October  12,  when  General 
Lane  arrived  with  reinforcements  for  the  wearied 
garrison. 


NATAL     EXPLOITS. 


427 


MAJOR      ITURBIDE. 


BATTLES  OF  HUAMANTLA  AND  ATLIXCO. 

HUMORS  of  the  enemy's  designs  upon  Puebla,  and 
of  large  parties  infesting  the  road  leading  to  that 
city,  reached  Vera  Cruz  in  the  latter  part  of  Septem 
ber.  In  consequence  of  the  information,  General 
Lane  left  the  latter  place  with  a  considerable  force 
and  marched  for  the  interior.  He  was  not  long 
without  sight  of  an  enemy.  At  the  hacienda  of 
Santa  Anna,  near  the  San  Juan  Kiver,  he  carne  up 


428  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

with  a  party  of  guerillas.  Captain  Lewis's  com 
pany  of  mounted  volunteers  was  sent  in  pursuit,  and 
a  portion,  under  Lieutenant  Lilly,  succeeded  in  over 
taking  them.  A  short  skirmish  ensued,  in  which 
the  lieutenant  behaved  with  great  bravery  and 
finally  drove  the  Mexicans  from  their  position. 
After  this  slight  interruption  the  whole  command 
proceeded  until  it  reached  the  Paso  de  Ovejas,  where 
the  rear-guard  was  fired  upon  by  a  small  guerilla 
force,  and  Lieutenant  Cline,  an  efficient  young 
officer,  killed. 

This  inarch  was  unusually  fatiguing  to  the  troops, 
on  account  of  the  heat  of  the  weather  and  nature 
of  the  road.  Occasionally  but  a  part  of  the  gene 
ral's  force  could  move  forward,  and  frequently  the 
artillery  was  greatly  delayed  amid  ravines,  passes, 
and  other  natural  obstructions.  Meanwhile  rumors 
continued  to  multiply  concerning  a  large  Mexican 
force  concentrating  between  Perote  and  Puebla.  On 
arriving  at  the  former  place  General  Lane  received 
confirmation  of  these  reports,  with  the  additional 
information  that  they  numbered  4000  men,  with  six 
pieces  of  artillery,  and  were  commanded  by  Santa 
Anna  in  person.  At  the  hacienda  of  San  Antonio 
Tarnaris  he  learned  from  his  spies  that  the  enemy 
were  then  at  Huamantla,  a  city  but  a  few  miles  off. 
He  promptly  determined  to  march  there,  and,  if 
possible,  give  their  army  battle. 

In  order  to  execute  this  as  speedily  as  possible, 
the  general  left  his  train  packed  at  Tamaris's,  under 
charge  of  Colonel  Brough's  regiment  of  Ohio  volun 
teers,  Captain  Simmon's  battalion,  and  a  battery 
under  Lieutenant  Pratt.  With  the  remainder  of  the 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  429 

command,  consisting  of  Colonel  Wynkoop's  battalion, 
Colonel  Gorman's  regiment  of  Indiana  volunteers, 
Captain  Heintzelman's  battalion  of  six  companies, 
Major  Lally's  mounted  men,  under  Captain  Walker, 
and  five  pieces  of  artillery,  under  Captain  Taylor. 
After  moving  forward  as  rapidly  as  the  nature  of 
the  ground  admitted,  the  column  came  in  sight  of 
the  city  at  one  o'clock  of  October  9.  The  troops 
being  halted,  the  advance-guard  of  horsemen,  under 
Captain  Walker,  was  ordered  to  move  forward  to  the 
entrance  of  the  city,  but  not  to  enter,  if  the  enemy 
were  in  force,  until  the  arrival  of  the  infantry. 
When  within  about  three  miles,  Walker  observed 
parties  of  horsemen  riding  over  the  fields  towards 
the  city,  and,  lest  he  might  be  anticipated,  his  men 
were  put  to  a  gallop.  His  progress  was  anxiously 
watched  by  General  Lane,  until,  owing  to  a  hedge 
of  thick  maguey-bushes  on  each  side  of  the  road,  his 
movements  were  concealed  from  view.  In  a  few 
minutes  firing  was  heard  from  the  city.  About  the 
same  time  a  body  of  2000  lancers  were  seen  hurry 
ing  over  the  neighboring  hills,  and  General  Lane 
ordered  Colonel  Gorman  to  advance  with  his  regi 
ment  and  enter  Huamantla  from  the  west  while 
Colonel  Wynkoop  moved  towards  the  east. 

Captain  Walker,  on  arriving  at  the  entrance  of 
the  city,  had  discovered  about  500  of  the  enemy" 
drawn  up  in  the  plaza.  He  immediately  ordered  a 
charge.  Dashing  among  the  Mexicans,  his  handful 
of  men  engaged  hand  to  hand  with  three  times  their 
number,  and,  after  a  close  and  bloody  conflict,  drove 
them  away  and  captured  three  guns.  A  vigorous 
pursuit  commenced,  in  which  many  feats  of  daring 


430  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

were  performed,  among  which  was  the  capture  of 
Colonel  La  Vega  arid  Major  Iturbide  by  Lieutenant 
Anderson,  of  the  Georgia  volunteers.  The  former 
was  a  brother  of  General  La  Vega,  and  the  latter  a 
son  of  the  unfortunate  Emperor  of  Mexico.  Anderson 
narrowly  escaped  with  his  life.  A  Mexican  lieutenant 
was  also  taken. 

After  pursuing  the  enemy  some  distance,  Walker's 
men  imprudently  dispersed  and  returned  to  the 
square  in  small  parties.  This  was  in  consequence 
of  a  belief  that  the  enemy's  entire  force  had  been 
routed.  Suddenly  a  company  of  lancers  charged 
upon  the  plaza  and  succeeded  in  separating  the 
Americans  into  bodies.  A  desperate  fight  took  place, 
in  which  the  Mexicans  behaved  with  unwonted 
courage ;  but,  by  skilful  manoeuvring,  Walker  suc 
ceeded  in  uniting  his  forces,  and  entered  the  con 
vent-yard,  where  the  command  was  dismounted. 
Here  another  action  took  place,.in  which  the  lancers 
were  assisted  by  both  artillery  and  infantry.  Here, 
while  directing  the  movements  of  his  little  band, 
Captain  Walker  fell  mortally  wounded,  and  soon 
afterwards  expired.  The  enemy  were  driven  back. 

Meanwhile  the  main  column  of  the  American 
forces  arrived  at  the  city  and  opened  their  fire  upon 
masses  of  the  enemy.  Gorman,  with  the  left  wing 
of  his  regiment,  proceeded  towards  the  upper  part 
of  the  town,  where  the  enemy  still  were,  and  suc 
ceeded  in  dispersing  them.  At  the  same  time 
Colonel  Wynkoop's  command  had  assumed  position; 
but  before  they  could  open  their  batteries  the 
Mexicans  had  fled. 

In  this  hard-fought  aotion   the  loss  of  the  Ame- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  431 

ricans  was  13  killed  and  11  wounded.  They  suc 
ceeded  in  capturing  one  six-pounder  brass  gun,  a 
mountain-howitzer,  numerous  wagons,  and  a  large 
quantity  of  ammunition.  The  Mexicans  lost,  ir 
killed  and  wounded,  150. 


CAPTAIN     WALKER. 


After  this  battle  General  Lane  marched  to  the 
relief  of  Colonel  Childs.  He  remained  at  Puebla 
with  his  whole  force  until  the  evening  of  the  18th 
of  October,  when  information  was  received  that  the 
Mexican  general  Rea  was  at  Atlixco,  thirty  miles 


432  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

distant,  in  considerable  force.  Lane  immediately 
ordered  his  troops  to  be  ready  for  marching  on  the 
following  morning  at  eleven  o'clock.  At  that  time 
he  left  Puebla  with  nearly  the  same  force  that  had 
entered  it,  and,  after  a  forced  march  of  five  hours' 
duration,  came  in  sight  of  the  enemy's  advance- 
guard,  near  Santa  Isabella.  Here  a  halt  was  made 
until  the  cavalry  could  come  up  from  their  examina 
tion  of  a  neighboring  hacienda.  Meanwhile  small 
parties  of  the  enemy  came  to  the  foot  of  the  hill 
arid  opened  a  straggling  fire,  which  did  no  execution. 
On  the  arrival  of  the  cavalry,  Lane  put  his  whole 
force  in  motion ;  but,  as  signs  of  confusion  appeared 
among  the  Mexicans,  he  hurried  on  the  cavalry  to 
charge  the  enemy  and  keep  them  engaged  until  the 
infantry  could  come  up.  As  the  Americans  ap 
proached  the  Mexicans  retired,  until,  at  a  small 
hill,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  their  first  position, 
they  halted  and  fought  severely.  The  action  was 
continued  until,  by  a  forced  march,  the  American 
infantry  arrived,  when  they  again  fled,  pursued  by 
the  cavalry.  Another  running  fight  of  about  four 
miles  took  place,  during  which  many  of  the  fugitives 
were  cut  down.  When  within  less  than  two  miles 
of  Atlixco,  the  enemy's  main  body  was  observed 
posted  on  a  side-hill  behind  rows  of  chapparal 
hedges.  Without  stopping  to  ascertain  their  num 
bers,  the  cavalry  dashed  among  them,  dealing  death 
on  all  sides,  and  forcing  them  within  the  thickest 
part  of  their  shelter.  Then,  dismounting,  the  as 
sailants  entered  the  chapparal,  hand  to  hand  with 
their  foe.  Here  the  struggle  was  long  and  terrible, 
scores  of  the  enemy  falling  beneath  the  heavy  blows 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  433 

of  their  opponents.  This  continued  until  the  arrival 
of  the  infantry,  who  for  the  last  six  miles  had  been 
straining  themselves  to  the  utmost  to  join  the 
cavalry,  notwithstanding  the  previous  fatiguing 
march  of  sixteen  miles.  The  road  being  intersected 
by  numerous  gullies  prevented  the  artillery  from 
advancing  faster  than  at  a  walk;  and  so  worn  out 
were  the  cavalry,  both  through  exertion  and  the 
heat  of  the  weather,  that  they  could  pursue  the 
enemy  no  farther.  The  column  continued,  however, 
to  press  forward  towards  the  town ;  but  night  had 
already  set  in  when  it  reached  a  hill  overlooking  it. 
But  the  moon  shone  with  a  splendor  which  afforded 
a  fine  view  of  all  the  surrounding  country,  and 
enabled  the  American  general  to  continue  his  opera 
tions  with  perfect  certainty. 

As  the  Americans  approached,  several  shots  were 
fired  upon  them;  and,  deeming  it  imprudent  to  risk 
a  street  fight  in  an  unknown  town  at  night,  General 
Lane  ordered  the  artillery  to  be  posted  on  a  hill 
overlooking  the  town,  arid  to  open  upon  it.  This 
was  speedily  put  in  execution,  so  that  in  a  very 
short  time  the  terrified  inhabitants  beheld  flaming 
balls  and  shells  hurled  into  their  town  with  a  pre 
cision  and  effect  to  which  their  own  system  of  war 
fare  afforded  no  parallel.  Every  gun  was  served 
with  the  utmost  rapidity ;  and,  amid  the  stillness  of 
a  Mexican  night-scene,  the  discharges  of  artillery 
pealed  for  miles  around,  while  at  intervals  the 
crashing  of  walls  and  roofs  afforded  a  strange  and 
distressing  contrast.  This  bombardment  continued 
for  nearly  an  hour  with  great  effect ;  the  gunners 

28 


434  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

being  enabled  by  the  moonlight  to  direct  their  shot 
to  the  most  populous  parts  of  the  town. 

The  firing  from  the  town  had  now  ceased;  and, 
wishing  to  obtain,  if  possible,  its  surrender,  Lane 
ordered  Major  Lally  and  Colonel  Brough  to  advance 
cautiously  with  their  commands  into  the  town.  On 
their  entering,  the  general  was  met  by  the  ayunta- 
miento,  or  city  council,  who  desired  that  their  town 
might  be  spared.  Quiet  was  accordingly  restored, 
and  on  the  following  morning  Lane  disposed  of  such 
ammunition  as  could  be  found,  and  then  commenced 
his  return  to  Puebla. 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS. 


435 


COLONEL      FREMONT. 


OCCUPATION  OF  CALIFORNIA  AND  NEW 
MEXICO. 

IN  May,  1846,  President  Polk  was  authorized  by 
Congress  to  accept  the  services  of  50,000  volunteers, 
to  continue  the  war  which  had  commenced  on  the 


436  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

Rio  Grande.  Of  this  number  ten  companies  com 
posed  a  force  destined  to  act  against  Santa  Fe.  They 
were  formed  of  five  companies  United  States  dra 
goons,  two  of  foot,  two  light  artillery,  and  one 
volunteer  horse.  This  army  was  placed  under  the 
direction  of  Colonel  Stephen  W.  Kearney,  who,  in  a 
confidential  letter  from  Secretary  Marcy,  dated  June 
3,  1846,  received  in  substance  the  following  instruc 
tions  : — To  organize  for  the  expedition  an  additional 
force  of  1000  men,  in  order  to  proceed  from  Santa 
Fe  against  Upper  California ;  to  establish  a  govern 
ment  there  after  taking  possession ;  to  receive  as 
volunteers  a  number  of  Mormon  and  other  emigrants, 
recently  settled  in  the  province ;  to  co-operate  with 
the  naval  force  in  the  Pacific;  to  open  trade  with 
the  Indians :  and  to  respect  the  rights  of  the  Cali- 
fornians.  The  letter  concludes  as  follows: — "  I  am 
directed  by  the  President  to  say  that  the  rank  of 
brevet  brigadier-general  will  be  conferred  on  you  as 
soon  as  you  commence  your  movement  towards  Cali 
fornia,  and  sent  round  to  you  by  sea,  or  over  the 
country,  or  to  the  care  of  the  commandant  of  our 
squadron  in  the  Pacific.  In  that  way  cannon,  arms, 
ammunition,  and  supplies  for  the  land-forces,  will  be 
sent  you." 

The  depot  of  Kearney's  force  was  Fort  Leaven- 
worth.  On  the  27th  of  June  his  advance  commenced 
its  march;  and  by  the '1st  of  August  more  than 
1600  men  were  concentrated  at  Bent's  Fort,  having 
marched  a  distance  of  five  hundred  and  sixty-four 
miles.  The  march  was  resumed  on  the  3d,  and,  after 
a  toilsome  journey  over  frightful  prairies,  they 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  437 

arrived,  August  12,  at  the  mountains  near  the  Rio 
Grande. 

Signs  of  hostility  now  began  to  appear;  and 
messages  arrived  from  General  Armigo.  Governor 
of  Santa  Fe,  requesting  Kearney  to  advance  no 
farther,  or  at  least  to  consent  to  negotiations  for 
peace.  The  tone  of  these  was  dignified  but  earnest. 
The  American  commander  replied  that  he  came  to 
take  possession ;  that  the  peaceable  inhabitants 
should  be  well  treated,  but  that  the  vengeance  of 
both  army  and  government  would  be  poured  upon 
all  others.  On  the  march  the  colonel  received  a 
despatch  from  Government  constituting  him  briga 
dier-general. 

On  the  18th  of  August  General  Kearney  took 
possession  of  Santa  Fe  in  the  name  of  the  United 
States.  The  oath  of  allegiance  was  administered 
to  the  alcalde  and  inhabitants,  and  a  military  terri 
torial  government  established.  No  opposition  was 
experienced,  Governor  Armigo  and  his  army  having 
fled  at  the  approach  of  the  Americans.  General 
Kearney  was  proclaimed  governor,  erected  a  fort, 
(called  Fort  Marcy,)  and  published  a  proclamation 
to  the  inhabitants. 

After  seeing  every,  thing  in  a  state  of  tranquillity, 
General  Kearney  commenced  his  march,  September 
25,  for  the  distant  region  of  California. 

Before  the  general  had  accomplished  this  arduous 
undertaking,  Colonel  Doniphan,  with  his  citizen 
volunteers,  commenced  one  of  equal  magnitude,  and 
pregnant  with  events  of  paramount  importance. 
When  Kearney  left  Santa  Fe  he  ordered  the  colonel 
to  proceed  as  soon  as  practicable  into  Chihuahua 


438  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

and  report  to  General  Wool,  who,  with  the  centre 
division,  had  been  intrusted  with  the  conquering  of 
that  province. 

On  the  17th  of  December,  Doniphan,  with  924 
men,  began  his  expedition.  On  the  24th  they 
reached  the  Jornada  Lake,  into  which  runs  the 
Brazito  River,  more  than  twenty  miles  from  the 
Paso  del  Norte  of  the  eastern  mountain-range. 
Here  they  were  informed  that  the  Mexicans,  to  the 
number  of  1000,  were  collected  at  the  Pass,  ready 
for  an  attack.  The  Americans  numbered  about 
600,  the  remainder  being  sick.  On  the  afternoon 
of  the  following  day  (Christmas)  the  enemy  were 
seen  approaching,  and,  when  within  eight  hundred 
yards,  extended  themselves  so  as  to  cover  the  Ame 
rican  flank.  An  officer  approached,  carrying  a  black 
flag,  and,  after  proclaiming  no  quarters,  rejoined  his 
column,  which  immediately  charged  at  a  rapid  gallop. 
The  conflict  was  but  short, — the  Mexicans  being  de 
feated  with  the  loss  of  30  killed,  and  driven  into 
the  mountains.  Eight  were  captured,  six  of  whom 
subsequently  died ;  and  their  single  piece  of  cannon 
was  also  taken.  The  Americans  had  seven  wounded. 
On  the  27th  Doniphan  entered  the  town  of  El  Paso 
without  resistance,  where  he  was  reinforced  by  Major 
Clark's  artillery. 

On  the  8th  of  February,  1847,  the  whole  com 
mand  (924  men)  left  the  Paso  del  Norte  and 
marched  for  Chihuahua.  On  the  28th  was  fought 
the  great  battle  of  Sacramento.  This  action,  with 
the  position  itself,  is  thus  described  by  Colonel 
Doniphan  : — 

"  The  Pass  of   the  Sacramento   is  formed   by  a 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  439 

point  of  the  mountains  on  our  right  (their  left)  ex 
tending  into  the  valley  or  plain,  so  as  to  narrow  the 
valley  to  about  one  and  a  half  miles.  On  our  left 
was  a  deep,  dry,  sandy  channel  of  a  creek,  and 
between  these  points  the  plain  rises  to  sixty  feet 
abruptly.  This  rise  is  in  the  form  of  a  crescent,  the 
convex  part  being  to  the  north  of  our  forces.  On 
the  right  from  the  point  of  mountains,  a  narrow 
part  of  the  plain  extends  north  one  and  a  half  miles 
farther  than  on  the  left.  The  main  road  passes 
down  the  centre  of  the  valley  and  across  the  crescent 
near  the  left  or  dry  branch.  The  Sacramento  rises 
in  the  mountains  on  the  right,  and  the  road  falls  on 
to  it  about  one  mile  below  the  battle-field  or  intrench- 
ment  of  the  enemy.  We  ascertained  that  the  enemy 
had  one  battery  of  four  guns,  two  nine  and  two  six- 
pounders,  on  the  point  of  the  mountain  (their  left) 
at  a  good  elevation  to  sweep  the  plain,  and  at  a 
point  where  the  mountain  extended  farthest  into 
the  plain.  On  our  left  (their  right)  they  had  another 
battery  on  an  elevation  commanding  the  road,  and 
three  intrenchments  of  two  six-pounders;  and  on  the 
brow  of  the  crescent,  near  the  centre,  another  of  two 
six,  and  two  four  and  six  culverins,  or  rampart- 
pieces,  mounted  on  carriages ;  and  on  the  crest  of  the 
hill,  or  ascent  between  the  batteries,  and  the  right 
and  left,  they  had  twenty-seven  redoubts  dug  and 
thrown  up,  extending  at  short  intervals  across  the 
whole  ground.  In  these  their  infantry  were  placed 
and  were  entirely  protected.  Their  cavalry  was 
drawn  up  in  front  of  the  redoubts,  four  deep,  and  in 
rear  of  the  redoubts  two  deep,  so  as  to  mask  them 
as  far  as  practicable. 


440  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

"We  now  commenced  the  action  by  a  brisk  fire 
from  our  battery,  and  the  enemy  unmasked  and 
commenced  also.  Our  fire  proved  effective  at  this 
distance,  killing  15  men,  wounding  and  disabling 
one  of  the  enemy's  guns.  We  had  two  men  slightly 
wounded,  and  several  horses  and  mules  killed.  The 
enemy  then  slowly  retreated  behind  their  works  in 
some  confusion,  and  we  resumed  our  march  in  our 
former  order,  still  diverging  more  to  the  right  to 
avoid  their  battery  on  our  left,  and  their  strongest 
redoubts,  which  were  on  the  left  near  where  the  road 
passes.  .  .  .  The  howitzers  charged  at  speed,  and 
were  gallantly  sustained  by  Captain  Reid ;  but,  by 
some  misunderstanding,  my  order  was  not  given  to 
the  other  two  companies,  Parsons's  and  Hudson's. 
Captain  Hudson,  anticipating  my  order,  charged  in 
time  to  give  ample  support  to  the  howitzers.  Cap 
tain  Parsons  at  the  same  moment  came  to  me  and 
asked  permission  for  his  company  to  charge  the 
redoubts  immediately  to  the  left  of  Captain  Wright- 
man,  which  he  did  very  gallantly. 

"  The  remainder  of  the  two  battalions  of  the  first 
regiment  were  dismounted  during  the  cavalry  charge, 
and,  following  rapidly  on  foot,  and  Major  Clark  ad 
vancing  as  rapidly  as  practicable  with  the  remainder 
of  the  battery,  we  charged  their  redoubts  from  right 
to  left,  with  a  brisk  and  deadly  fire  of  riflemen,  while 
Major  Clark  opened  a  rapid  and  well-directed  fire 
on  a  column  of  cavalry  attempting  to  pass  to  our 
left  so  as  to  attack  the  wagons  and  our  rear.  The 
fire  was  so  well  directed  as  to  force  them  to  fall  back, 
and  our  riflemen,  with  their  cavalry  and  howitzers, 
cleared  it  after  an  obstinate  resistance.  Our  forces 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  441 

advanced  to  the  very  brink  of  their  redoubts,  and 
attacked  them  with  their  sabres.  When  the  redoubts 
were  cleared  and  the  batteries  in  the  centre  and  our 
left  were  silenced,  the  main  battery  on  our  right  still 
continued  to  pour  in  a  constant  and  heavy  fire,  as  it 
had  done  during  the  heat  of  the  engagement ;  but, 
as  the  whole  fate  of  the  battle  depended  upon  carry 
ing  the  redoubts  and  centre  battery,  this  one  on  the 
right  remained  unattacked,  and  the  enemy  had  rallied 
there  500  strong. 

"  Major  Clark  was  directed  to  commence  a  heavy 
fire  upon  it,  while  Lieutenant-Colonels  Mitchell  and 
Jackson,  commanding  the  first  battalion,  were  ordered 
to  remount  and  charge  the  battery  on  the  left,  while 
Major  Gilpin  was  directed  to  pass  the  second  bat 
talion  on  foot  up  the  rough  ascent  of  the  mountain 
on  the  opposite  side.  The  fire  of  our  battery  was 
so  effective  as  to  completely  silence  theirs,  and  the 
rapid  advance  of  our  column  put  them  to  flight  over 
the  mountains  in  great  confusion. 

"Thus  ended  the  battle  of  Sacramento.  The 
force  of  the  enemy  was  1200  cavalry  from  Durango 
and  Chihuahua,  300  artillerists,  and  1420  rancheros, 
badly  armed  with  lassoes,  lances,  and  machetes  or 
corn-knives,  ten  pieces  of  artillery, — two  nine,  two 
eight,  four  six,  and  two  four-pounders, — and  six 
culverins  or  rampart-pieces.  .  .  .  Our  force  was  924 
effective  men ;  at  least  one  hundred  of  whom  were 
engaged  in  holding  horses  and  driving  teams.  The 
loss  of  the  enemy  was  his  entire  artillery,  ten  wagons, 
masses  of  beans  and  pinola,  arid  other  Mexican  pro 
visions,  about  300  killed,  about  the  same  number 
wounded,  many  of  whom  have  since  died,  and  40 


442  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

prisoners.  The  field  was  literally  covered  with  the 
dead  and  wounded,  from  our  artillery  and  the  un 
erring  fire  of  our  riflemen.  Night  put  a  stop  to  the 
carnage,  the  battle  having  commenced  about  three 
o'clock.  Our  loss  was  1  killed,  1  mortally  wounded, 
and  7  so  wounded  as  to  recover  without  any  loss  of 
limbs." 

On  the  1st  of  March  Colonel  Doniphan  took  pos 
session  of  Chihuahua,  where  he  remained  three 
weeks.  At  the  end  of  this  time,  having  received 
orders  from  General  Wool,  he  marched,  April  25, 
for  Saltillo.  On  the  road,  Captain  Keid  defeated 
about  50  Indians  near  El  Paso,  May  13,  capturing 
one  thousand  horses.  On  the  22d  of  May  the  com 
mand  reached  Wool's  encampment,  and,  on  the  27th, 
that  of  General  Taylor. 

As  the  term  of  service  of  these  gallant  men  had 
expired,  they  now  commenced  their  return.  Early 
in  June  they  marched  through  Matamoras,  and,  on 
the  16th,  arrived  at  New  Orleans.  Their  reception 
was  most  enthusiastic,  and  they  set  out  for  their 
homes  laden  with  the  honors  and  congratulations  of 
a  benefited  republic. 

In  the  mean  time  important  events  had  been  taking 
place  in  California.  Before  the  war  began,  in  1846, 
the  territory  of  Upper  California  formed  the  north 
western  portion  of  the  Kepublic  of  Mexico.  The 
chief  portion  of  its  inhabitants  were  Indians,  on 
account  of  whose  hostility  the  interior  of  the  country 
was  little  known.  The  settlements  of  the  descendants 
of  the  Spaniards  and  Mexicans  were  situated  on 
the  coast  of  the  Pacific,  or  near  it.  These  small 
towns  had  grown  up  around  the  missions  established 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  443 

at  different  places  by  the  Jesuits  at  an  early  period. 
Portions  of  the  country  situated  in  the  valley  of 
San  Jose  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Los  Angeles  were 
very  fertile.  But  the  greater  part  of  the  territory 
was  thought  to  be  only  fit  for  grazing  purposes,  and 
consequently  the  population  increased  very  slowly. 
Intelligence  of  the  commencement  of  the  war  upon 
the  Rio  Grande  having  reached  the  Pacific  Ocean 
on  the  2d  of  July,  Commodore  Sloat,  commander  of 
the  squadron  on  that  station,  arrived  at  Monterey, 
and,  on  the  7th,  the  American  flag  was  hoisted  over 
that  town  amid  the  cheers  of  the  Americans  and  a 
salute  from  the  ships  in  the  harbor.  Commodore 
Sloat  then  issued  a  proclamation  to  the  people  of 
California.  On  the  8th  the  American  flag  was 
hoisted  at  San  Francisco,  by  Montgomery,  com 
mander  of  the  sloop-of-war  Portsmouth. 

Captain  Fremont,  who  had  arrived  in  California 
by  an  overland  journey,  with  a  party  of  about  170 
men.  took  possession  of  Sonoma,  one  of  the  most 
northern  posts  in  the  territory,  and,  leaving  a  small 
garrison  at  that  place,  marched  for  the  mission  of 
San  Juan,  about  thirty  miles  east  of  Monterey.  He 
arrived  there  and  took  possession  of  the  mission 
without  opposition.  A  considerable  quantity  of 
stores  was  found  there. 

The  fortification  of  Monterey  was  commenced  im 
mediately  after  raising  the  United  States  flag.  On 
the  23d,  Commodore  Sloat  sailed  in  the  Levant  for 
the  United  States,  leaving  Commodore  Stockton  in 
command  of  the  Pacific  squadron.  Immediately 
after,  the  Cyane,  Commandant  Dupont,  with  Captain 
Fremont  and  volunteers  on  board,  sailed  for  San 


444  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

Diego,  and  the  frigate  Congress,  Commodore  Stock 
ton,  sailed  for  San  Pedro,  the  port  of  Los  Angeles, 
the  capital  of  California.  The  frigate  Savannah 
remained  at  Monterey,  and  the  sloop-of-war  Ports 
mouth  at  San  Francisco.  Thus  all  the  ports  of  the 
territory  were  secured. 

On  the  17th  of  August  Commodore  Stockton 
issued  a  proclamation,  declaring  California  in  the 
full  and  peaceable  possession  of  the  United  States, 
and  authorizing  the  election  of  civil  officers  through 
out  the  countrv.  Colonel  Fremont  soon  afterwards 
«/ 

went  north  with  only  40  men,  intending  to  recruit 
and  return  immediately.  Early  in  September  Com 
modore  Stockton  withdrew  all  his  forces  and  pro 
ceeded  with  the  squadron  to  San  Francisco.  Captain 
Gillespie  was  left  in  command  of  Pueblo  de  los 
Angeles,  with  about  30  riflemen ;  and  Lieutenant 
Talbot  in  command  at  Santa  Barbara,  with  only  9 
men.  Scarcely  had  Commodore  Stockton  arrived  at 
San  Francisco,  when  he  received  information  that 
all  the  country  below  Monterey  was  in  arms  and 
the  Mexican  tlag  again  hoisted.  He  immediately 
returned,  took  command  of  the  sailors,  and,  dragging 
by  hand  six  of  the  ship's  guns,  marched  towards  Los 
Angeles.  At  the  ranche  Sepulinda  the  Californians 
were  prepared  to  meet  him ;  but  in  the  battle  which 
ensued  they  were  routed  with  great  loss.  By  this 
victory  Commodore  Stockton  acquired  a  sufficient 
number  of  horses,  mounted  his  men,  and  organized 
his  force  for  land-operations. 

On  the  23d  of  September  the  City  of  the  Angels 
was  invested  by  an  army  of  Californians,  whose  over 
whelming  numbers  caused  Captain  Giilespie  to  sur- 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  445 

render  that  place.  He  returned  with  his  30  riflemen 
to  San  Pedro,  and  there  embarked  for  Monterey. 
The  California!!  chief,  Manuel  Caspar,  then  led  200 
of  his  men  against  Santa  Barbara,  where  they  were 
braved  by  Lieutenant  Talbot  and  his  insignificant 
force  for  ten  days.  This  youthful  commander,  who 
had  won  the  esteem  of  Colonel  Fremont  in  his 
former  expeditions,  now  proved  himself  worthy  of 
holding  the  post  of  danger.  He  held  the  town  until 
he  was  completely  besieged,  arid  then,  refusing  to 
surrender,  forced  his  way  through  the  enemy  to  the 
mountains  in  the  vicinity,  where  he  remained  eight 
days,  suffering  from  cold  and  hunger.  The  enemy 
made  several  attempts  to  induce  him  to  surrender, 
which  he  rejected.  One  detachment  of  40  men  ad 
vanced  to  take  him,  but  was  driven  back.  They 
then  offered  to  permit  him  to  retire  if  he  would  pro 
mise  neutrality  during  the  war ;  but  he  told  them 
that  he  preferred  to  fight.  At  length,  finding  that 
neither  force  nor  persuasion  would  cause  him  to 
leave  his  position,  they  set  fire  to  the  grass  and 
brush  around  him  and  burned  him  out.  He  then 
retreated  with  his  9  men  to  Monterey,  five  hundred 
miles,  mostly  on  foot.  The  brave  fellows  were  wel 
comed  as  from  the  grave,  the  fears  of  their  com 
panions  that  they  were  slain  having  been  confirmed 
by  a  report  of  the  Californians  to  that  effect.  Colonel 
Fremont  had  made  an  attempt  to  go  from  San  Fran 
cisco  to  the  relief  of  Captain  Gillespie ;  but,  after 
being  at  sea  twenty-nine  days,  he  was  compelled  to 
put  back  to  Monterey  by  bad  weather.  A  day  or 
two  after  the  arrival  of  Lieutenant  Talbot,  a  party 
of  27  Americans,  under  Captains  Burrows  and 


446  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

Thompson,  were  attacked  by  the  Californians,  80  in 
number.  Captain  Burrows  and  three  Americans 
were  slain.  Three  of  the  enemy  also  fell,  but  they 
kept  the  Americans  shut  up  at  the  mission  of  St. 
Johns  until  Major  Fremont  marched  to  their  assist 
ance.  The  whole  party  left  St.  Johns  on  the  26th 
of  November,  and  arrived  at  San  Fernando  on  the 
llth  of  January. 

During  the  progress  of  these  events  in  California, 
General  Kearney  was  on  his  march  thither  from 
Santa  Fe.  On  the  6th  of  October  he  met  Carson 
with  15  men  coming  as  an  express  from  the  City  of 
the  Angels,  with  an  account  of  the  conquest  of  that 
country  by  Fremont  and  Stockton.  With  the  devo 
tion  to  the  public  service  for  which  he  has  always 
been  characterized,  he  complied  with  the  request  of 
General  Kearney  to  allow  some  one  else  to  take  his 
despatches  to  Washington,  and,  giving  up  his  hopes 
of  seeing  his  family,  he  turned  his  face  again  towards 
the  Pacific  as  a  guide.  General  Kearney  then  sent 
back  a  part  of  his  forces  and  continued  his  march 
with  100  men,  well  equipped.  On  the  15th  of  Octo 
ber  they  left  the  Rio  Grande  and  commenced  the 
march  across  the  mountains. 

On  the  5th  of  December  they  were  met  by  a  small 
body  of  volunteers,  under  Captain  Gillespie,  who 
had  come  from  San  Diego  for  the  purpose  of  giving 
them  information  concerning  the  state  of  the  country. 
Captain  Gillespie  informed  them  that  there  was  an 
armed  party  of  Californians,  with  a  number  of  extra 
horses,  encamped  at  San  Pasqual,  three  leagues  dis 
tant.  General  Kearney  determined  to  march  upon 
them,  in  the  double  hope  of  gaming  a  victory  and  a 


NAVAL     EXPLOITS.  447 

remount  for  his  poor  soldiers,  who  had  completely 
worn  out  their  animals  in  the  march  from  Santa  Fe, 
ten  hundred  and  fifty  miles.  Captain  Johnston  led 
the  advanced  guard  of  12  dragoons,  mounted  on  the 
best  horses  in  the  company;  then  came  20  volunteers 
under  Captains  Gibson  and  Gillespie,  and  in  the 
rear  two  mountain-howitzers,  with  dragoons  to 
manage  them,  mounted  on  sorry  mules.  The  rest 
of  the  army  were  ordered  to  follow  on  the  trail  of 
this  detachment  with  the  baggage.  At  daybreak  on 
the  6th  of  December  they  encountered  the  enemy, 
who  was  already  in  the  saddle.  Captain  Johnston 
made  a  furious  charge  upon  them  with  the  advance- 
guard,  and  was  well  supported  by  the  dragoons.  He 
fell  almost  in  the  very  beginning  of  the  fight;  but 
the  action  did  not  flag,  and  the  enemy  were  forced 
to  retreat.  Captain  Moore  led  off  rapidly  in  pur 
suit,  but  the  mules  of  the  dragoons  could  not  keep 
up  with  his  horses,  and  the  enemy,  seeing  the  break 
in  the  line,  renewed  the  fight  and  charged  with  the 
lance.  They  fought  well,  and  their  superiority  of 
numbers  had  wellnigh  proved  fatal  to  the  little 
band ;  but  the  dragoons  came  up,  and  they  finally 
fled  from  the  field,  carrying  off  most  of  their  dead 
with  them.  They  had  kept  up  a  constant  fire  in 
the  first  part  of  the  fight,  and  used  their  lances  with 
great  dexterity  at  its  close,  and  the  American  loss 
was  heavy.  Captain  Johnston,  Captain  Moore, 
Lieutenant  Hammond,  two  Serjeants,  two  corporals, 
eleven  privates,  and  a  man  attached  to  the  topo 
graphical  department,  were  slain.  General  Kearney 
was  wounded  in  two  places,  Captain  Gillespie  had 
three  wounds,  Lieutenant  Warner,  of  the  topograr 


448  BATTLE-FIELDS     AND 

phical  engineers,  three,  and  Captain  Gibson  and 
eleven  others  were  also  wounded,  most  of  them 
having  from  two  to  ten  wounds  from  lances.  The 
howitzers  were  not  brought  into  action  until  near 
its  close,  when  the  mules  attached  to  one  of  them 
got  alarmed,  broke  from  their  drivers,  and  ran  away 
with  it  directly  into  the  enemy's  lines.  The  severe 
wounds  of  the  soldiers  caused  a  halt  in  the  inarch 
until  the  10th  of  December,  when  the  march  was 
resumed,  and  on  the  12th  the  army  reached  San 
Diego. 

The  arrival  of  General  Kearney  at  San  Diego  was 
opportune ;  and  Commodore  Stockton  and  he  now 
laid  a  plan  for  putting  an  end  to  the  war. 

In  the  battle  of  San  Gabriel,  (Jan.  3,  1847,)  and 
on  the  plains  of  the  Mesa,  they  defeated  the  enemy 
and  entered  Los  Angeles,  (Jan.  10,)  and  signed  a 
capitulation  (Jan.  13)  by  which  the  country  passed 
tranquilly  under  the  government  of  the  United 
States.  The  other  incidents  which  transpired  in 
this  quarter  were  unimportant.  The  treaty  of 
Guadalupe  Hidalgo,  which  terminated  the  war,  gave 
Upper  California  to  the  United  States  on  the  pay 
ment  of  fifteen  millions  of  dollars  to  Mexico. 


THE   END. 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW 

AN  INITIAL  FINE  OF  25  CENTS 

WILL  BE  ASSESSED  FOR  FAILURE  TO  RETURN 
THIS  BOOK  ON  THE  DATE  DUE.  THE  PENALTY 
WILL  INCREASE  TO  SO  CENTS  ON  THE  FOURTH 
DAY  AND  TO  $1.OO  ON  THE  SEVENTH  DAY 


:       L;    :. 


20 


LD  21-100m-7,'40 (6936s) 


YB  372!) 


•£"/ 
•/ 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


